Purpose
To determine whether children and adults with unilateral congenital upper limb amputation
can control myoelectric prostheses with multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) using pattern
recognition (PR) technology.
Methods
Seven participants (age 9–62 years) with unilateral congenital transradial amputation
were tested on both their residual and sound side limbs to determine proficiency in
controlling a virtual prosthesis using electromyographic signals captured by an array
of surface electrodes that were processed using PR technology. Proficiency was measured
through a virtual environment game called the target achievement control test, in
which the testing protocol asked participants to match increasingly complex prosthesis
postures with 1, 2, and 3 DOF.
Results
All the participants successfully created a PR calibration at 1, 2, and 3 DOF with
their residual limb during testing, and no differences in calibration accuracy were
observed when comparing the residual versus sound upper limbs. No differences were
noted in the mean completion rate on the target achievement control test between the
residual and sound limbs.
Conclusions
Participants with a congenital upper limb amputation achieved PR control calibration
of multi-DOF prostheses with proficiency and quality results of PR calibration that
were comparable to those of their sound limb. This capability was observed in children
as well as in adults. This demonstrates the potential for children and adults with
a unilateral congenital transradial amputation to benefit from myoelectric prostheses
with PR control.
Clinical relevance
The results from this study highlight the potential for patients in this population
to benefit from myoelectric prostheses with PR control. Persons with unilateral congenital
upper limb amputations can be considered for provision of this technology and enrollment
in future research activities.
Key words
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 11,
2021
Received:
January 15,
2020
Footnotes
Dr Gaston is a board or committee member for the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and on the editorial or governing board of the Journal of Hand Surgery. No benefits in any form have been received or will be received related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 by the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. All rights reserved.
