Glossary

 

  • ABC - American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics
  • AE Trans-Humeral - Above the elbow amputee
  • AK Trans-Femoral - Above the knee amputee
  • Alignment - Position of a prosthetic socket in relation to foot and knee
  • Amputation - Removal of all or part of a limb due to infection, injury, tumor, disease, or trauma
  • Amputee - A person who has had all or part of a limb removed/amputated or is born without a limb
  • BE Trans-Radial - Below elbow amputee
  • Bilateral - Bi means both, meaning both sides
  • BK Trans-Tibial - Below the knee amputee
  • BOC - Board for Orthotist/Prosthetist Certification
  • BOCO - BOC Certified orthotist
  • BOCOP - BOC Certified orthotist and prosthetist
  • BOCP - BOC Certified prosthetist
  • Chopart - Amputation of approximately 2/3 of the foot
  • CO - ABC Certified orthotist
  • Congenital limb deficiency - When all or part of limb(s) do not develop normally in the womb or are missing
  • Contralateral - The other side
  • CP - ABC certified prosthetist
  • CPO - ABC Certified prosthetist and orthotist (also known as CO - CP - CPO)
  • Disarticulation - Limb is amputated through the joint
  • Distal - Further away from the center of the body (your foot is distal to your knee)
  • Doffing - Taking the prosthesis off
  • Donning - Putting the prosthesis on
  • Edema - Swelling of the tissues (also spelled oedema)
  • Endo - Inside
  • Endoskeletal - A prosthesis which typically uses a pylon (tube) to support the weight of the amputee. This prosthesis is typically covered with soft foam and nylon.
  • Proximal - Close to the body (your knee is proximal to your foot)
  • PTB - Patellar Tendon Bearing - A BK socket design which supports much of the weight through the patellar tendon under the kneecap
  • Residual limb - The remaining part of the limb after amputation (the stump)
  • Socket - The part of the prosthesis (artificial limb) that fits around the residual limb
  • Suction socket - A socket on an artificial leg that is held to the residual limb by the suction of negative pressure maintained within the socket
  • Symes - Amputation of all but one of the foot bones
  • Total contact - Total contact between the limb and socket at all points
  • Transfemoral (TF)(AK) - Amputation above the knee
  • Transhumeral (TH)(AE) - Amputation above the elbow
  • Transmetatarsal - Amputation of approximately 1/2 of the foot
  • Transradial (TR)(BE) - Amputation below the elbow
  • Transtibial (TT)(BK) - Amputation below the knee
  • UE - Upper extremity or limb