Teen wrestler without hand defying odds using high-tech prosthetic

Anthony Robusto, a 17-year-old from Hall County, has had quite a journey. 

Amniotic Band Syndrome left him without a full left hand. 

The syndrome occurs in 1 in 10,000 to 15,000 births.

The backstory:

Robusto was a wrestler. He grappled on the mat from third to tenth grade. He did so without using a prosthetic.

The only time he used a prosthetic was an old-fashioned one for weightlifting.

What they're saying:

Robuto said he completely forgot about his hand.

"Didn't really stop me at all. I'd forget half the time," says Robusto.

That was except for when people would remind him of it.

"People would come up to me and say, 'Oh my God!  Can I touch your hand?' It got kind of weird," says West Hall High School senior.

He says that an uneasy experience is a key reason he chose to use a prosthetic hand.

"To boost a lot of my confidence," he says.

"Oh, it's incredible even for a non-novice. This is incredible technology," Robusto said.

"It just makes everything a little faster, easier," adds Robusto." Nothing can stop you if you have one hand or not."

Dig deeper:

His high-tech device has sensors inside along his wrist and forearm muscles. It helps trigger movement in his mechanical hand.

"To get the best contraction to allow him to be the most functional," says Children's Healthcare of Atlanta physical therapist Jill Cannoy. 

The Source: FOX 5's Kevyn Stewart spoke to Anthony Robusto and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta physical therapist Jill Cannoy about Amniotic Band Syndrome.

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