prosthetics
Pronunciation: pros-THET-iks
The clinical discipline concerned with the design, fabrication, and fitting of artificial limbs and other prosthetic devices to replace absent body parts.
Full Definition
Prosthetics is the professional field and practice of creating prostheses—artificial replacements for missing limbs or body parts resulting from amputation, congenital absence, or trauma. In rehabilitation documentation, editors should distinguish 'prosthetics' (the discipline) from 'prosthesis' (singular device) and 'prostheses' (plural). The field is commonly paired with orthotics in departmental and team references. Levels of amputation (transtibial, transfemoral, transradial) are frequently cited in prosthetic documentation and must be rendered precisely, as level determines device type and rehabilitation pathway.
Usage
Usage note: Do not use 'a prosthetics' as a singular noun. The singular device is a 'prosthesis'; the plural is 'prostheses.'
In Context
- "The prosthetics team evaluated the patient for a microprocessor-controlled knee joint three months post-amputation." — Amputee rehabilitation clinical summary
- "Authors should note that 'prosthetics' denotes the discipline, while 'prosthesis' refers to the individual device." — Journal author guidelines