Prosthetic Fitting Concepts after Major Amputation in the Upper Limb - an Overview of Current Possibilities

Background The upper extremity and particularly the hands are crucial for patients in interacting with their environment, therefore amputations or severe damage with loss of hand function significantly impact their quality of life. In cases where biological reconstruction is not feasible or does not lead to sufficient success, bionic reconstruction plays a key role in patient care. Classical myoelectric prostheses are controlled using two signals derived from surface electrodes in the area of the stump muscles. Prosthesis control, especially in high amputations, is then limited and cumbersome. The surgical technique of Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) offers an innovative solution: The major arm nerves that have lost their target organs due to amputation are rerouted to muscles in the stump area. This enables the establishment of cognitive control signals that allow significantly improved prosthesis control. Patients/Materials and Methods A selective literature review on TMR and bionic reconstruction was conducted, incorporating relevant articles and discussing them considering the clinical experience of our research group. Additionally, a clinical case is presented. Results Bionic reconstruction combined with Targeted Muscle Reinnervation enables intuitive prosthetic control with simultaneous movement of various prosthetic degrees of freedom and the treatment of neuroma and phantom limb pain. Long-term success requires a high level of patient compliance and intensive signal training during the prosthetic rehabilitation phase. Despite technological advances, challenges persist, especially in enhancing signal transmission and integrating natural sensory feedback into bionic prostheses. Conclusion TMR surgery represents a significant advancement in the bionic care of amputees. Employing selective nerve transfers for signal multiplication and amplification, opens up possibilities for improving myoelectric prosthesis function and thus enhancing patient care. Advances in the area of external prosthetic components, improvements in the skeletal connection due to osseointegration and more fluid signal transmission using wireless, fully implanted electrode systems will lead to significant progress in bionic reconstruction, both in terms of precision of movement and embodiment.