First in Chicago to Offer New Lightweight Prosthetic Partial Hand for Teenagers

Pediatric Orthotic and Prosthetic Services (POPS) – Midwest, LLC, at the Chicago Shriners Hospital is now offering a new lighter-weight hand prosthetic for children ages 12 and above. M-Fingers has been available for adults but they now offer a pediatric version of the artificial partial hand. Shriners Hospitals is the first hospital in Chicago to offer this carbon fiber technology that is specifically designed to fit children.

Often children who are missing some or all of their fingers may choose not to get an artificial hand because the devices can be heavy or uncomfortable to wear. Existing lighter-weight versions may be cosmetic in nature and not functional. The pediatric M-Fingers device is custom-made for each patient using lightweight carbon fiber. The "fingers" are activated through a patient's wrist movement. Patients are also allowed to customize the color scheme of their M-fingers. The two patients who have received M-fingers so far said it is “very cool.” Both were not previously wearing a prosthetic but desired to have more hand functionality to pursue hobbies and everyday activities they enjoy. Nationally, less than 20 children have received a pediatric M-fingers device so far.

POPS – Midwest, LLC, at Shriners Hospitals for Children — Chicago is an in-house service, providing care for our patients who need prosthetic and orthotic devices. From infancy to 18 years of age, the experienced and certified POPS staff provides upper and lower orthotic and prosthetic services. The staff also provides spinal orthotic services for a wide spectrum of orthopaedic conditions such as congenital and acquired deformities including scoliosis and those caused by disease, infection, sports injuries and trauma.

The orthopaedic care at the Chicago Shriners Hospital of M-fingers patients and other patients with limb differences is overseen by attending physician Jeffrey Ackman, M.D., a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon, who manages the largest clinic in the Chicagoland area for children with limb differences, amputations, prosthetics and orthotics. Onsite occupational therapy for M-finger patients may also be available. All care and services at Shriners Hospitals for Children are provided regardless of families’ ability to pay. To refer a family to our orthopaedic surgery care, have them call 773-385-KIDS (5437) or visit shrinerschicago.org.