Prosthetics Clinic

At Phoenix Children’s Prosthetics Clinic, we care for patients from birth to 21 years who need prosthetics (artificial limbs and devices) or limb reconstruction surgery. We improve our patients’ range of motion and their ability to play, function independently and pursue activities that allow them to live their best lives.

Limb Conditions

We treat all types of limb conditions, including:

  • Amputations
  • Ankle instability
  • Hip instability
  • Knee instability
  • Limb deformities
  • Limb length discrepancy – One arm or leg is longer than the other.
  • Lower limb difference – A leg, knee, ankle or foot is not shaped in the usual way.
  • Missing joints
  • Missing upper or lower limbs
  • Upper limb difference – A shoulder, arm or hand is not shaped in the usual way.

Limb Loss

Sometimes children are born with limb loss due to certain conditions, such as:

  • Amniotic band syndrome – Strands of the mother’s amniotic sac detach and wrap around parts of the baby in the womb, affecting the formation of arms, legs, fingers and toes.
  • Congenital limb difference – An arm or leg does not form correctly as the baby grows in the uterus. In some cases, one limb is longer than the other. These birth defects can affect hands, fingers, feet and toes.

Sometimes children lose their limbs due to accidents or medical conditions that make amputation necessary. These situations include:

  • Cancer – Some aggressive cancers spread to the bone, or tumors invade important nerves or blood vessels making it impossible to save the limb. These include rare bone cancers, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. 
  • Diabetes complications – High blood sugar can cause complications that lead to poor blood supply to legs and feet, resulting in slow-healing wounds and risk of severe infection. 
  • Infections – If the child’s risk of a dangerous infection spreading into the bloodstream is high, amputation may be necessary to prevent spread of the infection.
  • Multiple failed surgeries to reconstruct the limb
  • Pain – The child experiences recalcitrant pain (pain that does not improve) in the limb after multiple previous surgeries or nerve injuries.
  • Traumatic injuries – In some traumatic injuries, the child loses a limb in a motor vehicle crash, lawn mower accident or fire. Sometimes, a child’s finger is severely injured when caught in a door.
  • Vascular (blood vessel) disease – Tangled arteries and veins, called vascular malformations, and other issues interfere with blood circulation.

Our multidisciplinary team serves patients and families who are considering prosthetic limbs for the first time. We also work with children who need to replace their current prosthetics due to growth or their desire to be more active and participate in new activities, sports or hobbies.