Editing Prosthesis (section)

== {{anchor|endoprosthesis|endo-exoprothesis|prosthetic implant|prosthetic joint implant}} Direct bone attachment and osseointegration ==
{{Main|Osseointegration}}

Most prostheses are attached to the exterior of the body in a non-permanent way. The stump and socket method can cause significant pain for the person, which is why direct bone attachment has been explored extensively. 

[[Osseointegration]] is a method of attaching the artificial limb to the body by a prosthetic implant. 
This method is also sometimes referred to as ''[[exoprosthesis]]'' (attaching an artificial limb to the bone), or ''endo-exoprosthesis''.
''Endoprosthesis'' are prosthetic joint implants which remain wholly inside the body such as [[knee replacement|knee]] and [[hip replacement]] implants.

The method works by inserting a titanium bolt into the bone at the end of the stump. After several months the [[osseointegration|bone attaches itself]] to the titanium bolt and an abutment is attached to the titanium bolt. The abutment extends out of the stump and the (removable) artificial limb is then attached to the abutment. Some of the benefits of this method include the following:
* Better muscle control of the prosthetic.
* The ability to wear the prosthetic for an extended period of time; with the stump and socket method this is not possible.
* The ability for transfemoral amputees to drive a car.
The main disadvantage of this method is that amputees with the direct bone attachment cannot have large impacts on the limb, such as those experienced during jogging, because of the potential for the bone to break.<ref name="four"/>