Prosthetic reconstruction to restore function in transcarpal amputees.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Prosthetics

Background:

• Distal hand mutilations present reconstruction challenges.
• Biological treatments and standard prostheses have limitations for partial hand injuries.
• Transcarpal amputations often affect young manual laborers due to trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional outcomes of customized prosthetic reconstruction for transcarpal amputations.
• To assess the impact of prosthetic fitting on patients' ability to return to work.

Main Methods:

• Functional outcomes were assessed using the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure (SHAP), and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire.
• Psychological assessment was conducted using the Short Form-36.
• Evaluations were performed at least 12 months post-fitting.

Main Results:

• Patients achieved mean ARAT score of 35.67 ± 0.58 and SHAP score of 74 ± 7.81.
• Reconstructed hands achieved 75.27 ± 8.16% of healthy hand function on SHAP and 62.57 ± 1.02% on ARAT.
• Patients reported average physical and mental health scores on the Short Form-36, indicating successful rehabilitation and return to work.

Conclusions:

• Customized transcarpal prosthetic fitting provides quick and reliable functional reconstruction.
• Prosthetic reconstruction is a viable option for traumatic hand injuries, particularly for manual laborers aiming to return to work.