The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
Prosthetics and orthotics
Replacement or support for body parts
Replacement or support for body parts. Our team of orthopaedic surgeons are experts at determining when a prosthetic or orthotic may be the best option for your treatment.
What are prosthetics and orthotics?
Prosthetics are artificial body parts for people who have a natural limb missing or a joint that has become damaged. Orthotics provide supportive braces and splints for people with conditions of the limbs or spine.
Our experienced, multidisciplinary team can determine when a prosthetic or orthotic may be the right option for you. A prosthetic may be appropriate when a long-term condition causes you pain (which can't be relieved with medication) and effects a vital aspect of your daily life, such as walking. Hip replacement and knee surgery are two examples.
There are many variations in the design of prosthetics, and they can be made from metal, ceramic or plastic. In some cases, an off-the-shelf or custom-made orthotic may be the right option for improving your movement. For example, an arch support for the treatment of lower limb injuries to correct poor foot alignment.
Our orthopaedics expertise
Our team of orthopaedic surgeons have the expertise to treat complex orthopaedic conditions using the latest prosthetics and orthotics
Need to know
The most common cause of knee joint pain in the older age group is arthritis, which can be brought on by wear and tear (osteoarthritis), inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis) or injury (post-traumatic arthritis). A total or partial knee replacement involves replacing the damaged joint surfaces...
Ankle replacement surgery is a treatment to relieve the pain caused by ankle arthritis. Your consultant may recommend ankle replacement surgery if your symptoms have not responded to other treatments. During the surgery, your surgeon will remove the ends of the damaged bones and fit a plastic-and-metal...
Your shoulder is a ball and socket joint. The ball should move freely in its socket. If it is damaged by injury or worn away it can become painful and stiff. Your consultant may recommend shoulder joint replacement surgery if non-surgical options like physiotherapy and medication aren't working.
If your elbow joints have suffered wear and tear, a condition like arthritis or an injury, moving them can become progressively painful. Your consultant may recommend elbow replacement surgery if other options like physiotherapy and medication haven't helped alleviate your condition.
Our Prosthetics and orthotics locations
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Princess Grace Hospital
42-52 Nottingham Place W1U 5NY London
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.