An orthosis, or brace, is a supportive or corrective aid for a body part. A prosthesis replaces a missing body part, such as a finger, breasts, an arm or a leg.

Read more about amputation and rehabilitation in our information brochure.

Our prosthetists work closely with your surgeon, your rehabilitation doctor and the physiotherapists. We assist you with advice before amputation. Immediately after the amputation, the stump is still swollen and your skin is sensitive. That is why it is important that the wound heals at its own pace. It often takes about 3 to 6 weeks before the surgical wound is closed. Once the stump has healed nicely and the swelling has disappeared, we can precisely measure your prosthesis tube.

Read more about amputation and rehabilitation in our information brochure.

The suspension of your prosthetic leg to the stump is done with a liner. The liner ensures a good connection between your stump and your prosthesis. There are different types of liners, such as pin-liners, string-liners or vacuum systems.

• The pin-liner is literally clicked onto your prosthesis, so you cannot lose the prosthesis.
• Liners with a vacuum system distribute the pressure in your prosthesis tube, forcing the air out and creating a vacuum suspension.
• String liners are an option for securing your lower leg prosthesis. When your stump is at the bottom of the tube, you can fasten the cord.

The most common pain after having an amputation is wound pain, phantom pain, or pain in certain areas of pressure.

‘Phantom pain" is pain that can occur on an amputated body part, such as a leg or an arm. You feel pain in the arm or the leg that is no longer there. Many people have to deal with it. It can be a sudden, very severe pain, but it can also be experienced as a constant nagging or burning pain. Possible solutions for this are medication, applying hot/cold packs or bandaging the stump. If the pain does not improve, contact your doctor, your physiotherapist or our prosthetists. We will assist you with our help and advice.

It is best not to depilate the amputation stump. Shaving can cause small wounds that can become infected. In addition, shaving cream can cause irritation.

Learning to start walking with a prosthetic leg is not easy, and unfortunately we don’t have a ready-made answer to this question either. How long exactly you need to use the prosthesis fully depends on several factors, such as the cause of the amputation, the level of amputation, the condition of the stump, the other leg and finally, your motivation.

After an amputation you learn to walk step by step, as well as how to put on and take off the prosthesis. Some of the most commonly used exercises are:

• Get up and sit back
• Walking on a walkway
• Keeping balance
• Walking with a walking aid

Eventually you will learn to use your prosthesis in various daily activities. We help you with this learning process.

At Spronken Orthopaedics, the focus is on functionality, but certainly also on aesthetics. We make modern, high-tech prostheses that can also be very beautiful!

The type of prosthesis depends on the amputation level and on your own wishes. Functional prostheses can look very mechanical, but we can also manufacture cosmetic prostheses that look almost the same as your limb. Or maybe you are a fan of a football club, or you like tattoos? We can really do a lot for you. Our prosthetist will tell you what options there are.

You may have known for a while that you will have an amputation. You are probably having a hard time with this, but you are not alone during this difficult period in your life. The Spronken prosthesis team will support you and be open to all your questions and gladly inform you about the costs.

If you are insured in Belgium and your doctor has prescribed the prosthesis, you are eligible for reimbursement from your mutuality or health insurer. If you request a prosthesis yourself, the costs are yours to pay. We make a lot of modern prostheses where the patient has nothing to pay.

A prosthesis will last several years. See ‘When should my prosthesis be replaced?’ for more information about the Belgian renewal periods of the NIHDI.

Spronk Orthopaedics has an extensive, international clientele and offers the full spectrum of arm and leg prostheses for different activity levels. We specialise in high-tech arm and leg prostheses and also make very specific and special sports prostheses. We design arm and leg prostheses for the top athlete as well as for recreational sports. We are happy to make you a customised, non-binding price offer for special prostheses.

You can definitely return to work after amputation. When the prosthesis has been fitted and delivered, the prosthesis training starts. During this training you will learn how to use it in your daily activities.

We will always look at your profession when making a prosthesis. If your profession is physically stressful, we will take this into account when choosing the tube and other components of the prosthesis.

Our team also specialises in making specific prostheses. Some people choose to have two types of prostheses made. If you wish, we can make a prosthesis that you use at work as well as a cosmetic prosthesis. Request a non-binding price quote from us.

Sports after amputation, with a prosthesis? Isn’t life difficult enough already?

Research shows that regular exercise makes you happier and healthier, and increases your self-confidence. There are a lot of possibilities for you, even after an amputation, so feel free to orient yourself to a sport. Ask your physiotherapist and your rehabilitation doctor for advice.

An expensive sports prosthesis is not necessary for the most accessible forms of sport. Good advice and possibly some adjustments to your daily prosthesis are often sufficient to practise your favourite sport again! Also discuss your wish to return to sports with us and our prosthetists. Together we will look at the possibilities.

In addition to the legally required driving license, you must also be able to drive. If you have a restriction that may affect traffic participation, you must report it. In this case, your ability to drive will have to be reassessed.

As a prosthesis user, you can talk to your doctor about your ability to drive. Your driving skills will then be tested in Belgium at the CARA (Center for Driving Ability and Vehicle Adjustment). They investigate whether you meet the legal requirements to drive a vehicle and whether you need any adjustments to be able to drive your car safely.

We make special prostheses for bikers and even for motocross. These prostheses are very expensive but increase the quality of life for many active people. Ask us for non-binding advice.

Spronken personalises prostheses and sees here an art and a way to break the taboo.

Colourful and expressive prostheses, that is certainly possible with Spronken Orthopaedics. We are happy to make a unique prosthesis for you according to your taste and wishes.

Spronken Orthopaedics offers a very wide range of patterns and colours available to personalise your prosthesis. Ask your prosthetist to go through all the available options.

If you maintain your prosthesis well, it is good for wearing comfort and for the using period.

In most cases, your prosthesis is not water resistant. So be careful when cleaning the prosthesis! But the prosthesis tube can be cleaned with soap and water. It is also important that your prosthesis is never exposed to extreme heat, or, in other words, heat that your own body cannot tolerate. Do not burden your daily prosthesis more than you would have your body. If your prosthesis needs to be adapted to extremely high physical load, please report this to your prosthetist.

Some tips:

• Clean the tube daily with a damp cloth. Let the tube dry well before putting on the prosthesis. If you use a pin liner, we recommend that you regularly vacuum the liner with a vacuum cleaner.
• Clean the inside of the liner every night. After cleaning, rinse the liner with water and dry well.
• Do not expose the liner to heat, heating or sunlight. The material of which the liner is made does not resist well against this.
• Do not disassemble your prosthesis yourself. Contact our prosthetist if you have a problem.

You can clean your silicone liner with water and (a skin-friendly) soap. Rinse the liner well under the tap with lukewarm water. Then dry the liner well with a towel after rinsing. Never clean your liner with solvents such as degreasers! This can cause cracks and the liner will no longer fit nicely.

The Belgian health insurance fund NIHDI provides a free annual inspection of your prosthesis and a renewal after a certain period.

If the stump has changed its shape or if a part of the prosthesis is worn out, we will repair the prosthesis for you. Annual maintenance of the prosthesis and its reimbursed accessories is mandatory to continue to benefit from the warranty.

For each amputation level and per group, a fixed amount is provided that offers the patient a mobility guarantee during normal use of the prosthesis. According to the NIHDI, however, there is a minimum period of use for prostheses.

Contact your prosthetist for more information. Read more about amputation and rehabilitation in our information brochure.