Prosthetic Reconstruction, Rehabilitation & Surgical Planning —
Training activity: 10

Details

Lead a new patient assessment for a digit prosthesis. Discuss individual patient requirements and prosthetic rehabilitation

Plan design and manufacture the final prosthesis and provide aftercare support

Type

Developmental training activity (DTA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.

Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.

An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• What are the key considerations for a digit prosthesis regarding function and aesthetics?
• In the manufacture of a digit prostheses what are the ideal mechanical properties that will enable selection of an appropriate material.
• What are the essential aftercare instructions?
• What will you learn about assessing the functional and aesthetic needs of a patient requiring a digit prosthesis?
• What design and manufacturing techniques are important for creating a functional and natural-looking digit?
• What are the key aspects of patient education and aftercare?
• Have you reviewed the anatomy and biomechanics of the hand and digits?
• Have you observed patient consultations and prosthesis fittings?
• Have you researched different materials and fabrication techniques for digit prostheses?
• What retention options are there?

In action

• As you lead the assessment, discuss requirements, plan, design, and manufacture the digit prosthesis, and consider aftercare, are you focusing on both the functional and cosmetic aspects important to the patient? What immediate decisions are you making regarding the level of detail, material flexibility, and retention mechanism? During discussions, are you actively listening to the patient’s needs and adapting your proposed solutions?
• Is your assessment effectively capturing the patient’s functional requirements and aesthetic expectations for the digit prosthesis? Are you encountering any challenges in achieving a comfortable and natural-looking prosthesis that meets their needs? What immediate learning is occurring as you address the specific considerations for digit prosthetics? How does this activity relate to your understanding of limb prosthetics, material science, and patient rehabilitation?
• If the patient has specific functional goals or aesthetic preferences that present design or manufacturing challenges, what alternative designs or materials are you considering in real-time? Do you need to seek advice on specialised techniques for digit prosthesis fabrication or retention? Are you ensuring that your recommendations and actions are patient-centred and within your scope of practice?

On action

• Describe the process of leading the patient assessment and discussing their requirements and expectations for the digit prosthesis. What were the key individual requirements identified? Describe the planning, design, and manufacturing process of the final prosthesis. What information and support did you provide regarding aftercare? How did the patient respond?
• What specific skills or knowledge did you develop or improve in patient assessment for digit prosthetics, prosthesis design and manufacture, and aftercare provision? What did you learn about the functional and aesthetic considerations for digit prostheses? Were there any unexpected challenges or successes during the assessment, manufacture, or aftercare stages? What did you learn from these? How did the patient’s individual requirements directly influence the design and manufacture of the prosthesis?
• What areas for continued development have you identified in digit prosthetics, including patient interaction and technical aspects? How can you apply the knowledge and skills gained to future cases requiring digit prostheses? What resources or support might you need to further develop in this area?

Beyond action

• Have you revisited experiences with custom digit prostheses? How has your understanding of the balance between function and cosmesis in distal extremity prosthetics developed?
• How have these experiences impacted upon your current practice in assessing and managing patients with digit loss? Are you more adept at understanding functional needs and retention options?
• How might these experiences contribute towards your future practice in more complex hand or foot prosthetic cases or the use of advanced manufacturing techniques? What did you learn about small intricate prostheses and patient adaptation?

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 1	Outcome Deliver quality patient centred care with the best interests of patients in all elements of practice.
# 2	Outcome Practice in accordance with local and national health and safety policies, regulatory requirements and overall service governance.
# 3	Outcome Communicate effectively with patients, relatives, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
# 4	Outcome Identify patients who need further specialist support and refer to the appropriate healthcare specialist.
# 5	Outcome Analyse and interpret patient investigations, multimodal imaging and information.
# 6	Outcome Perform clinical investigations, formulate treatment plans and manufacture medical devices to a safe clinical standard.
# 8	Outcome Select appropriate biomedical materials and components/instrumentation used in the treatment of patients and the manufacture of custom-made medical devices.
# 9	Outcome Practice in partnership with other clinical specialisms as part of a multidisciplinary team and understand their roles and their impact on patient care and pathway.
# 10	Outcome Apply the principals of a quality management system to their professional practice.
# 12	Outcome Assess and interpret patients’ needs to provide customised treatment dependent on medical, physical, social and psychological requirements.