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Myoelectric and Body-Powered Upper-Limb Prostheses: The Users’ Perspective
State of the Science Conference Findings
Keyword(s)
upper-limb prosthesis, prosthesis, individual with amputation, limb deficiency
There are a number of considerations that clinicians weigh when guiding patients through the decision-making processes associated with upper-limb prosthetic rehabilitation. While clinical guidance is essential to such decisions, especially for an individual's first prosthesis, many patients benefit from peer mentoring and interaction. The opportunity to speak to someone who has experienced what they are going through can be extremely valuable and appreciated. Thoughtful clinicians have also benefited from years of listening to the perspectives of their patient clientele. The intent of this article is to present two users' perspectives that canvass some of the various considerations associated with congenital deficiency versus acquired limb amputation, unilateral versus bilateral limb absence, and the perceived benefits associated with body-powered and externally powered systems. (J Prosthet Orthot. 2017;29:P30–P34)
Author(s)
Carrie Davis, MAOL; Mike St. Onge, AA
Description
In compiling the contents of the proceedings, there was agreement from the conference attendees that the perspectives of the end user should be represented. However, this decision is not without its pitfalls, as the individual needs, preferences, and resources of each patient are unique to that individual. Thus, the opinions and experiences of a single end user can never adequately represent the perspective of the entire population and could unintentionally skew content away from the state of the science toward the preferences of a single individual. Indeed, given the wide variety of needs, preferences, and resources in clinical care, it is beyond the scope and capacity of these conference proceedings to comprehensively cover the myriad of end user perspectives that might be found in clinical care.
However, two ideal end users were identified who were able to provide a general overview of common experiences of end users. Carrie Davis describes her perspective as an end user with a congenital unilateral transradial limb deficiency who grew up using body-powered (BP) systems and now prefers an externally powered prosthesis. In turn, Mike St. Onge describes his perspective as an end user with acquired bilateral amputations at the transradial and through-elbow level, respectively. Mike currently chooses to use a BP device on the transradial limb and prefers no prosthesis on his arm with the through-elbow amputation. Thus, these two commentaries provide a collective user's perspective that, if not comprehensive, is rather broad encompassing considerations germane to congenital and acquired limb deficiency, unilateral and bilateral deficits and prosthetic preferences towards body power, external power, and the choice of no prosthesis.