title: Three-Dimensional Printing of Prosthetic Hands for Children.
abstract: Children with hand reductions, whether congenital or traumatic, have unique prosthetic needs. They present a challenge because of their continually changing size due to physical growth as well as changing needs due to psychosocial development. Conventional prosthetics are becoming more technologically advanced and increasingly complex. Although these are welcome advances for adults, the concomitant increases in weight, moving parts, and cost are not beneficial for children. Pediatric prosthetic needs may be better met with simpler solutions. Three-dimensional printing can be used to fabricate rugged, light-weight, easily replaceable, and very low cost assistive hands for children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Burn
authors.affiliation: Open Factory, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Anderson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ta
authors.affiliation: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Houston, TX. Electronic address: Ggogola@shrinenet.org.
authors.forename: Gloria R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Gogola
mesh_terms: D001186:Artificial Limbs; D002648:Child; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional; D011474:Prosthesis Design
keywords: Three-dimensional printing; assistive hand devices; pediatric upper limb deficiency; upper limb prosthesis