Prosthetic arms – above-elbow (transhumeral) prostheses
Above-elbow prostheses for amputation above the elbow: cosmetic, body-powered and myoelectric solutions, with electronic elbows and a design tailored to you.
Prosthetics
Upper-limb prosthetics: prosthetic arms, hands and fingers
From a silicone prosthetic finger to a myoelectric hand: we design upper-limb prostheses that suit your amputation level, your work and your everyday life.
Your hand grips, holds, writes and waves. That is why losing it, partly or completely, affects both your daily life and the way you feel about yourself. Upper-limb prosthetics is more demanding than lower-limb prosthetics, but today’s solutions, from lifelike silicone prostheses to myoelectric hands, offer real possibilities. At Hlamidis Orthopaedic Center in Thessaloniki we design and fit prosthetic arms, hands and fingers, using components from Ottobock and Össur.
Three main types of upper-limb prosthesis
- Cosmetic (silicone) prostheses: passive prostheses with no active movement that reproduce the natural hand in fine detail. They offer symmetry, protection of the residual limb and, for many people, greater self-confidence.
- Body-powered (mechanical) prostheses: you open and close the terminal device with movements of your body, which are transmitted through a stainless-steel cable.
- Myoelectric prostheses: electrodes in the socket “read” the electrical signals of the muscles in your residual limb, and a microprocessor turns them into hand movement. This is what is often called a bionic hand.
The right solution for your amputation level
Fingers and partial hand loss
Finger prosthetics is usually provided with silicone hand and finger prostheses. We start by taking an impression of your healthy hand, so that the prosthesis has wrinkles, veins and nails, and then the silicone is coloured to match your skin tone. For active function there is also the myoelectric i-Digits Quantum solution from Össur, which replaces from one to five fingers.
Below-elbow (transradial) amputation
This is the most common upper-limb amputation. Below-elbow prostheses can be cosmetic or functional, mechanical or myoelectric, with multi-grip electronic hands such as the i-Limb Quantum from Össur and the BeBionic from Ottobock.
Above-elbow (transhumeral) amputation
Above the elbow, the prosthesis also has to replace the elbow joint. Above-elbow prostheses combine a mechanical or electronic elbow, such as the DynamicArm from Ottobock, with a suitable hand.
Shoulder disarticulation
Even when almost the entire arm has been removed, a myoelectric prosthesis can offer a large degree of independence. See our page on the shoulder disarticulation prosthesis.
How we choose together and how you learn to use it
The choice is made with you and in collaboration with your doctor: what you want to be able to do, what your job requires, and how important appearance is to you. With myoelectric prostheses we first test your muscle signals and help you learn to control them. Practice, together with physiotherapy and occupational therapy, is the key to making the prosthesis part of your everyday life. Read more about myoelectric options for below-elbow prostheses.
Upper-limb prostheses and EOPYY
EOPYY (ΕΟΠΥΥ), Greece’s national health insurance organisation, also reimburses upper-limb prostheses for people insured in Greece, based on maximum prices per item and component. You need an electronic prescription/referral from a doctor of the relevant specialty, and your co-payment is, as a rule, 25%. As an indication, according to Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ) B' 1079/2022, the maximum reimbursable price is €2,950 for a silicone hand prosthesis and €675–875 for a silicone finger prosthesis, with replacement every 3 years. Separate categories apply to electric hands, e.g. €1,788 for a simple electric hand. Contact us so that we can check what applies in your case, or see our page on EOPYY and reimbursement. If you are not insured in Greece, EOPYY reimbursement does not apply; you can pay privately, and any cover depends on your own insurer’s rules – contact us and we will give you the information you need for your case. The EOPYY information is valid as of the date this page was last updated (October 2026).
Upper-limb prostheses we make
Below-elbow (transradial) prostheses – prosthetic hands
Prosthetic hands for below-elbow amputation: functional myoelectric or body-powered prostheses and cosmetic solutions, with multi-articulating hands such as the bebionic and i-Limb Quantum.
Silicone hand and finger prostheses
Custom-made silicone prosthetic fingers and partial hand prostheses, with the shape, detail and skin tone of your own hand, for a natural appearance and greater confidence.
Shoulder disarticulation prosthesis
Even when almost the entire arm has been removed, a shoulder disarticulation prosthesis can provide symmetry, support and, with myoelectric components, function.
Are there prosthetic fingers that look real?
Yes. Silicone finger prostheses are made from an impression of your healthy hand and are hand-coloured to match your skin tone, with details such as wrinkles, veins and nails. They have no active movement, but they offer a natural appearance, protection and help with simple grips. See our silicone hand prostheses.
What is a myoelectric or “bionic” hand?
It is a prosthesis that moves using the electrical signals your residual-limb muscles produce when they contract. Electrodes inside the socket pick up these signals, and a microprocessor opens and closes the hand or switches grip. Hands such as the i-Limb Quantum and the BeBionic move each finger with its own motor.
Does EOPYY cover upper-limb prostheses?
Yes. For people insured in Greece, EOPYY reimburses upper-limb prostheses, both cosmetic and electric, up to the maximum prices set in the Government Gazette (ΦΕΚ) for each item. You need a prescription from a doctor of the relevant specialty, and your co-payment is, as a rule, 25%. We tell you the exact amount for your case from the start.
How much does a bionic hand cost?
The price depends on your amputation level, the type of hand, the socket, the electrodes and the batteries. Multi-grip myoelectric hands are among the most expensive prosthetic components, and the amount covered by EOPYY may not cover the full cost. After your assessment, we give you a proposal with a cost breakdown.
How quickly will I learn to use my prosthesis?
It depends on the type of prosthesis and on how much you practise. You can wear a cosmetic prosthesis straight away, while a myoelectric one needs training to control the muscle signals and the grips. We guide you through the first steps and work together with your physiotherapist or occupational therapist.
Related
Upper and lower limb prostheses in Thessaloniki
Prosthetic legs, arms, hands and fingers for every level of amputation, designed and made in our Thessaloniki workshop with Ottobock and Össur components.
Bionic technology: bionic legs, knees and hands
Microprocessor knees and feet from Ottobock and Össur that adapt to every step. Find out how they work, who they are suitable for and how the fitting process works.
EOPYY reimbursement for prosthetic limbs, braces & orthoses in Greece
Who is entitled to EOPYY reimbursement in Greece, the steps involved, the documents you need and the maximum amounts set by the Government Gazette for prostheses, braces and orthoses.
We work with the leading manufacturers
Talk to us about the prosthetic hand you need
Call +30 2310 282 894 to book an assessment. We will show you the options and explain how EOPYY reimbursement works.