[Psychological approach to congenital hand deformities. Congenital deformities, the desire to know]. / Approche psychologique de la malformation congénitale de la main. La malformation congénitale, le désir de savoir.

The psychological approach to congenital malformation is determined by the stares of the others and the individual's needs. The relationship of the body of the person afflicted with a congenital malformation is a question of aesthetic suffering and not of functional use. Caught up in a network of a priori and anxiety-based projections, it is difficult for patients, children, adolescents or adults, to express themselves and make themselves heard. This multi-faced issue poses a basic problem for a society, which penalizes physical deformity. Beyond the medical techniques, the subject's ethic has to be considered.

Ungual prostheses.

Whatever the origin and the nature of the trauma, behind every request for ungual prostheses there is always the question of how realistic the effect on others will be. Our publications in 1978, 1988 and 1999 and 30 years of experience in this field have consequently led to a comparative study on the evolution of the quality, fixation and indications of our prostheses. The replacement nail is still a difficult issue as sometimes it is simply a matter for the 'nail boutiques', but can even involve surgery in the more complex cases. Prostheses replicate the volume and shape of the finger. Treating a nail is an intricate task but an essential one for the aesthetic and functional comfort of the patient.

Aesthetic hand prosthesis: gadget or therapy? Presentation of a new classification.

Aesthetic prostheses must fulfill a functional as well as an aesthetic role. The function of these prostheses may be perceived as an additional passive support, or as an instrument of social function and an aid to the patient. This functional role has been observed in the continued use of these prostheses over several years. We reviewed our experience with prescription, fitting and follow-up care in 2847 patients. Classification of these patients was based on their age, level of amputation (with or without functional pinch) and cause of amputation. Analysis of the data ratifies our indications for prosthesis fitting. The long-term wearing of these aesthetic prostheses confirms their use as therapeutic tools.