Navigating finger prosthetic options can be upsetting, but thank you for striving to live. Please don't lose hope! Our detailed guide will help you explore and understand the various finger prosthetic options to regain functionality and confidence, making your daily tasks easier.
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Key Takeaways
- Finger prosthetics come in various types like silicone, body-powered, and myoelectric, each offering different benefits depending on your needs, such as aesthetics, functionality, or advanced technology.
- Our top 5 hand and finger prosthetics are Naked Prosthetics, PSYONIC Ability Hand, COVVI Hand, TASKA Gen2 and CX models, and Open Bionics Hero Gauntlet.
- Personalizing your prosthesis is essential for your comfort, aesthetics, and functionality to boost your confidence and perform everyday tasks naturally.
- Heather Abbott Foundation can offer financial grants to help cover expenses for specialized prosthetic devices.
Exploring Finger Prosthesis Varieties
Choosing a finger prosthesis is not a one-size-fits-all decision. The right choice depends on various factors, including the level of finger amputation, your lifestyle, and personal preferences.
Broadly, we can categorize finger prostheses into three types—silicone prosthetic fingers, functional prosthetic fingers, and custom-designed thumb prostheses. Each of these offers unique benefits and can cater to various needs.
| Silicone Finger Prostheses | Body-powered Prostheses | Passive Finger Prostheses | Myoelectric Finger Prostheses | Hybrid Finger Prostheses | |
| Benefits | Cosmetic or lifelike appearance, customizable, and boosts self-esteem | Restores basic hand function, durable, and simple to use | Affordable, low maintenance, and improves hand aesthetics | High agility, responsive to muscle movements, and advanced technology | Combination of aesthetics and functionality |
| Material | Medical-grade silicone | Lightweight metals, durable plastics | Various (simple design) | Advanced sensors and materials | Varies (custom combination) |
| Movement Capability | None | Basic (gripping, pinching) | None | High | Varies (depends on combination) |
| Attachment Method | Suction, adhesives, mechanical anchors | Usually fixed, sometimes removable | Usually fixed | Controlled by muscle sensors | Varies (depends on combination) |
| Longevity | 1-3 years | 3-5 years | 5-10 years | 3-5 years | 3-7 years |
| Cost | Moderate to high | Moderate to high | Low to moderate | High | Varies (depends on combination) |
Top 5 Finger and Hand Prostheses
Choosing the right finger prosthesis is essential to improve your functionality, comfort, and confidence. Advancements in prosthetic technology have expanded the range of high-quality options available, each offering unique benefits tailored to diverse needs.
We searched a lot of companies and reviewed their finger and hand prosthesis features, functionality, and suitability to make it easier for you to choose the one that suits you.
Functional Prosthetic Fingers by Naked Prosthetics
Offering premium hand prosthetics that have stable movement and improved grip, Naked Prosthetics shines in functionality for partial hand amputation and amputated fingers. They offer a wide range of finger prostheses, such as the PIPDriver, MCPDriver, ThumbDriver, and GripLock Finger.
- PIPDriver: It is designed to restore length and dexterity by replicating natural finger movements, replacing missing joints, and safeguarding sensitive areas, specifically for people who have an amputation in the middle of their distal phalanx.
- MCPDriver: It restores pinch, key, cylindrical, and power grasps, providing grip stability for people with proximal phalanx amputation.
- ThumbDriver: It mimics the natural movement of the thumb, especially during opposition, providing strong support and precise movement to restore hand function.
- GripLock Finger: It enhances grip by providing a passive positionable digit prosthesis that collaborates with the remaining fingers, making it suitable for those with multiple fingers amputated.
These high-quality finger prostheses significantly impact users’ lives, enabling them to regain functionality and independence in their daily activities.
PSYONIC Ability Hand
The PSYONIC Ability Hand offers sensors that enable a near-natural sense of touch, letting you feel the things you do. It is also known for its durability, lightweight, and water-resistant design, making it versatile for various environments.
What we like the most is its multi-articulated features and technological advancement. It offers full hand dexterity with all fingers flexing and the thumb rotating electrically and manually. It's easy to charge via USB-C, with a quick charge lasting all day and even allows you to charge your phone from the arm.
Its cross-compatibility with various control systems and Bluetooth connectivity enables real-time adjustments and over-the-air updates, ensuring the hand remains highly functional and adaptable to individual needs. It also features six color options, allowing you to choose a look that reflects your style and preferences.
COVVI Hand
The COVVI Hand has four color options—carbon black, rose gold, titan grey, and white—designed for all adults and most adolescents. It is highly customizable and built with robust materials, catering to your needs for everyday use.
What we like the most is its passively flexing fingers and thumb feature, where you can access multiple grip options while providing impact protection and durability quickly. It also features an integrated flex wrist that allows you to move naturally with reduced strain on the shoulder, enhancing comfort and ease of use.
Plus, the intuitive thumb control with a twin motor design enables fast, precise adjustments, making the hand highly responsive and user-friendly for various tasks. If you value innovation and adaptability, the COVVI Hand prosthesis might be the one you're looking for.
TASKA Prosthetics
If you have an active lifestyle, the TASKA Hand is the one for you. It is rugged and waterproof, capable of handling daily tasks in various environments, including wet or rough conditions, making it suitable for manual laborers, outdoor enthusiasts, and those with high activity levels.
TASKA offers two prostheses options—TASKA Gen2 and TASKA CX. Both are designed to be durable, waterproof, and versatile prosthetic hands. The difference is their focus and design improvements.
The TASKA Gen2 focuses more on general robustness and durability while the TASKA CX is designed with additional focus on adaptability, providing a more refined experience for users in various environments and tasks.
The TASKA CX is equipped with additional features to improve user experience and functionality. It offers enhanced control and precision, making it more suitable for tasks requiring fine motor skills, such as detailed work or hobbies that involve intricate movements.
Open Bionics Hero Gauntlet
The Hero Gauntlet from Open Bionics offers a lightweight, stylish, breathable, and highly customizable prosthesis designed for enhanced independence and comfort during everyday activities. It uses 3D printing technology for a perfect fit and finger alignment, allowing improved range of motion and reliable grip.
It also has 40+ design and color options with Apple Watch wristband compatibility, making it more personalized and comfortable to wear for you. Additionally, it features a BOA dial for on-the-go adjustments like tightening or loosening your grip.
If you have a partial hand amputation or congenital limb differences, Hero Gauntlet is the perfect fit for you.
Personalize Your Prosthesis
Personalization plays a crucial role in prosthetics. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, a tailored prosthetic device can offer a more comfortable fit and better results.
Match Your Skin Tone
Matching your skin tone is important in personalizing your prosthesis as it ensures a natural and seamless appearance. However, your skin tone might change over time due to sunlight exposure or age.
To maintain a natural look, prosthetic companies occasionally remake the prosthesis or externally adjust the color to match your current skin tone. This way, your prosthetic finger can continue to look natural and lifelike, making you more confident.
Achieve Natural Movement
It can be complex to achieve natural movement in a prosthetic finger. It involves replicating the intricate movements of natural finger joints, considering dexterous and natural finger movements, and emulating natural hand closure. Various technologies, including joint-driven, cable-controlled, and wrist-driven mechanisms, are integrated into finger prosthetics to achieve this.
The results are promising. Prosthetic fingers enable some degree of movement, enhancing your ability to move objects. They offer pressure stimulation and clear feedback during touch, contributing to more controlled and precise movements.
Custom-Designed Thumb Prosthesis
A higher level of personalization is found in custom-designed thumb prostheses. They can be tailored to your precise measurements, ensuring a superior fit and comfort. The design process includes utilizing free open-source software, 3D scanning technology, and additive manufacturing methods. This advanced approach results in prostheses that protect sensitive tissue, improve function, and maintain a natural appearance.
Beyond comfort, custom-designed thumb prostheses also offer enhanced functionality for daily activities and improved aesthetics that contribute to a more lifelike appearance. It’s all about creating a solution that’s just right for you—one that blends seamlessly with your hand structure and meets your unique needs.
Navigating Financial and Insurance Aspects
Health insurance plans typically cover some prosthetic expenses, but the coverage may not cover the entire cost.
In the US, Medicare and Medicaid can help cover the costs of prosthetic devices. The typical cost of a finger prosthesis varies from $2,000 to $20,000, with the actual price being determined by the specific type and complexity of the prosthesis.
Navigating these financial and insurance aspects can be challenging, but we will help you find assistance to regain functionality in your fingers or hand.
Heather Abbott Foundation Financial Grant
The Heather Abbott Foundation offers financial grants to amputees who need specialized prosthetic devices due to traumatic circumstances. While the foundation strives to assist as many individuals as possible, not all applicants may receive support. But, they will refer you to other organizations that might be able to assist if they cannot help.
To apply, provide your personal information and tell them your amputation story. After that, the Board of Directors will review to see if you're eligible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much would a prosthetic finger cost?
The prosthetic finger price ranges from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on the type and condition.
Are there prosthetics for missing fingers?
Yes, there are prosthetics specifically designed for finger loss, such as those offered by Naked Prosthetics. They are custom-made to provide functional, high-quality replacements for missing fingers.
How does a prosthetic finger stay on?
If it is a silicone prosthesis, it’s often attached by pushing it onto the residual part of the finger (stump). As you push, the air is forced out between the silicone and your skin, creating a snug fit that holds the prosthesis securely in place. This method helps the prosthesis stay on firmly without additional adhesives or straps.
Are finger prosthetics covered by insurance?
In some cases, finger prosthetics may be covered by insurance plans, but it depends on the specific plan and the deductible/copay requirements. The Affordable Care Act requires small-group insurance plans to cover Essential Health Benefits, including prosthetics, but it's not mandatory for all plans.
Are silicone prosthetic fingers durable?
Yes, silicone prosthetic fingers can be durable with proper maintenance and usage, lasting 1 to 3 years.
