Pediatric Amputee & Prosthetic Care

The Amputee and Prosthetic Center staff is highly skilled in the care of pediatric amputees and prosthetics for children. The needs of pediatric amputees are dramatically different than those of adult amputees and only providers with special expertise in pediatric amputees and pediatric prosthetic devices can truly meet the needs of the child amputee patient.  Our staff can help deal with challenges unique to pediatric amputee patients. Through support, education, cutting edge technology and fit, we take care of your child through every single step of their growth and progress.

Children’s Comfort Tools

• A library with over 20 books and periodicals written for children addressing a variety of topics including:  losing a limb from a child’s perspective, guiding teachers about how to address amputation with amputee’s classmates, and books for all age ranges.
• Patient dolls or teddy bears that mimic his or her type and level of amputation
    

"It is important that child amputees develop positive self-esteem and body image to achieve self-acceptance. Our combination of pediatric peer mentors, amputee dolls, and children's amputee books are useful not only as educational aids, but also as counseling tools, prosthetic models, and enjoyable learning for our pediatric patients."  -Robyn Skogman, Certified Prosthetist
 

A Prosthetic Device that Grows with Your Child

For the youngest children that are just crawling, if a prosthetic device interferes with crawling, it should be removed. However, there is definitely a time between the ages of 8 to 15 months when a child is ready for a prosthetic. Remember, just like children with both legs, they will stand and fall, stand and fall and then eventually learn how to use the artificial limb. For upper arm amputees, the prosthetic device can be used as early as 4 to 6 months.

Many children prefer to hop as opposed to using their prosthetic device. Keep in mind that years and years of hopping on the sound leg can, over time, may lead to arthritis and other severe conditions at a later age. Hopping should be discouraged for all amputees.

When children enter into adolescence they face the typical challenges as others their age. Teenagers strive to be like their friends and to not stand out, being an amputee can become especially difficult. Often times at this stage, teenagers prefer to have a cosmetic cover on their limb. These cosmetic covers are oftentimes removed in their late teens so that they can "show off" their prosthetic device.

Parent Support Network

Whether you are the parent of a newborn with a congenital limb difference, if your child has recently suffered an amputation or if you are contemplating amputation, talking with fellow parents of an amputee child can be helpful. Discussing what to expect in practical issues from a parent with first hand experience can be very empowering to the parent of a child with limb differences. Please call The Amputee and Prosthetic Center at 713-747-7647 to be put in touch with other parents that have faced similar circumstances.
 

The Pediatric Amputee and School Issues

Education is key. A meeting with school administration should be set up in advance to discuss possible issues and to create awareness of the prosthetic device. Like anything else, it is subject to breakage. Contact the family should the limb break realizing; however, that it is not a dire emergency.

Ensure that your child will be able to participate in physical education activities and to make sure that your child is not just sitting on the bench watching the other children play. We suggest an orientation with teachers and possibly the amputee student’s classmates.

Advocating for Your Amputee Child   

Government protects children with disabilities in 3 ways:

• The Education for all Handicapped children Act 1976
• Part H 1986 amendment
• The American Disabilities Act 1980