Amputation Levels

Each person with upper limb loss or limb difference presents a unique residual limb, with amputation levels that range from partial finger all the way to shoulder level, and some are missing more than one limb. Our team of prosthetists and occupational therapists have years of experience working with all levels of limb loss and work closely with every patient to explain their prosthetic options. With the patient’s input, we recommend the most appropriate prosthetic components and therapy techniques to meet their individual goals and help them return to functional independence.

Finger and Partial Hand

This level of amputation covers a wide variety of limb loss that can include all or part of the thumb, all or part of the fingers, or amputation through the palm. Finger and partial hand amputations are often the result of traumatic injuries, and can also be caused by disease or be present from birth. They are by far the most common type of upper limb amputation and make up about 90 percent of all upper limb differences. There are a variety of creative and functional prosthetic solutions available at this level.

View finger and partial hand prosthetic options →

PH-No Px-1 PH-No Px-3

Below the Elbow

This amputation level can occur at any point on the forearm from just below the elbow joint to the wrist joint. Below elbow limb loss can be caused by trauma, by disease or be a limb difference that is present from birth. Prosthetic solutions for this amputation level must replace the functions of the wrist joint and the hand.

Transradial (Below the Elbow) Amputee Bilateral Transradial (Below the Elbow) Amputee

Above the Elbow

This amputation level can occur at any point on the upper arm, from just above the elbow to just below the shoulder joint. Above elbow limb loss can be caused by trauma, disease or be a limb difference that is present from birth. Prosthetic solutions for this amputation level are highly complex because they need to replicate the joint functionality of the elbow, wrist and hand. Patients at this level who want to use a myoelectric prosthesis may be candidates for targeted muscle reinnervation surgery (TMR) to enable more precise control of their prostheses.

Transhumeral (Below the elbow) Amputee Transhumeral (Above the elbow) Amputee

Shoulder Level

This amputation level covers limb loss from the shoulder joint to the area above the shoulder joint, sometimes extending into the shoulder blade. Shoulder level limb loss is rare and prosthetic solutions are extremely complex and often involve the use of targeted muscle reinnervation surgery (TMR) to replicate the function of every single arm joint on one (or both) sides of the body. Our team of upper limb-focused prosthetists and occupational therapists are the best in the world at providing unique shoulder-level prosthetic solutions to meet each patient's goals and provide functional independence.

Shoulder Level (interscapular-thoracic) Amputee