When can you get a finger prosthesis after an amputation? A work-injury story from Korea
Right after the injury, emergency care and checking whether the finger can be reattached come first. If reattachment is not possible, or once treatment is finished, a finger prosthesis is started when the wound has healed and swelling has settled, not just when the skin has closed. This customer, who had come to Korea to work and lost two joints of an index finger in a workplace accident, came to us after treatment, before returning home, and received a custom silicone finger prosthesis modelled on their own finger.
What matters most right after an amputation?
Treatment comes before any prosthesis. Replantation surgery, which reconnects the blood vessels, nerves and tendons of a severed finger, depends on restoring blood flow quickly, so call emergency services (119 in Korea) or go to an emergency department straight away and follow the medical team’s instructions.
- Wrap the severed part in clean gauze or cloth, seal it, and keep it cool without letting ice touch it directly.
- Soaking it in water or placing it straight on ice can damage the tissue further.
- It is important to reach a hospital equipped for microsurgery and for monitoring blood flow and rehabilitation afterwards.
A relatively clean cut, such as from a knife, differs from a crush or tearing injury from machinery, which can damage a wider area. Even arriving at hospital within the same time, whether reattachment is possible and how treatment is planned can differ, so follow the medical team’s assessment rather than judging for yourself.
Can I get a prosthesis as soon as treatment ends?
Not always. A finger prosthesis is considered once the wound has healed and the affected area has settled into shape. Making one while swelling remains can cause problems:
| Possible problem | Why |
|---|---|
| Pain when wearing it | A prosthesis sized to a swollen finger presses hard on the affected area |
| Loosening later | Once swelling goes down, a gap opens inside and the prosthesis can slip off easily |
We have had cases where the wound had healed but swelling had not gone down enough, so fabrication was postponed. Wound, pain, swelling and skin sensitivity are all considered, and the timing is confirmed with your medical team.
Case: a customer who lost two joints of an index finger while working in Korea
Our customer had come to Korea from abroad to work and lost two joints of an index finger in an accident with a cutting machine. After treatment, and before returning home, they looked for a finger prosthesis that would look natural. At home they had only found ready-made products in fixed sizes and colours, and no one who would make one to match their own hand shape and skin tone.
We cast the index finger on the other hand to confirm length, thickness, joint position and nail shape. The inside was shaped for a close suction fit on the affected area, so it does not slip off easily in daily life.
How was the skin tone matched?
A hand is never a single colour. The back of the hand, the palm and the skin around the joints all differ slightly, so we measured skin tone digitally with E-SKIN (SPECTROMATCH, UK) to set the base shade, then added detail colours so the prosthesis blends with the neighbouring fingers. Nail shape, creases and the flow of the veins were modelled on the other index finger. We aim for a result that is difficult to tell apart from a real finger, but results vary from person to person.
Five things to check before getting a finger prosthesis
- Have the wound and swelling fully settled?
- Does it press on or hurt the affected area when worn?
- Is it built so it will not slip off easily in daily life?
- Is it made to reflect your own finger shape and skin tone?
- Is after-sales support available once it is finished?
We provide after-sales support while you use your prosthesis, and if a repair is not possible we will guide you through a remake. If you are visiting from abroad or have a fixed departure date, tell us at the start: your affected area and schedule can change the approach and timeline. The standard process is three visits and about 4–6 weeks from consultation to delivery; express production takes 1–2 weeks. Consultation is available in English.
Frequently asked questions
How soon after an amputation can I get a finger prosthesis?
Once the wound has healed and swelling has settled so the affected area is stable. The exact timing is confirmed together with your medical team.
Why not make it while there is still swelling?
A prosthesis sized to a swollen finger can hurt when worn, and once the swelling goes down it can become loose and slip off. That is why timing is sometimes adjusted.
I am a foreign worker in Korea. Can I have a prosthesis made before I go home?
Yes. The customer in this story was working in Korea and came to us before returning home. Tell us your departure date at the start of your consultation.
Is express production available?
Express production takes 1–2 weeks; whether it suits you depends on your affected area and the product.
What if something goes wrong after delivery?
We provide after-sales support while you use your prosthesis, and if a repair is not possible we guide you through a remake. Your production records are kept, so a remake does not start from scratch.
