One Man’s Thoughts About Prosthesis Covers and Cosmesis

I’m not in the O&P business. I’m a transfemoral amputee, and I have some thoughts for the profession about the January cover story in The O&P EDGE (“More Than Aesthetics: The Role of Prosthetic Covers”). I can only speak from my own experience, but I’ve lived with a prosthesis every day for nine years, since the age of 26. I’ve worn them with and without foam covers, I own a 3D-printed cover from Alleles, and I’ve had both flesh-tone and black carbon fiber sockets. I’ve tried both the realistic and the stripped-down bionic look.

This question was posed in the article: “As O&P patients are more likely to take pride in their prostheses and are not afraid to show off the bionic look of their prostheses, what role do prosthetic covers play? [Is there] still a place for prosthetic covers?”