Passive prosthetic hands and tools: A literature review

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Passive prostheses, encompassing prosthetic hands and tools, are categorized as static or adjustable.
• Despite significant use by individuals with limb deficiencies, passive prostheses have received limited research and development attention.
• A recent comprehensive review of the peer-reviewed literature on passive prostheses is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a thorough review of the existing peer-reviewed literature focusing on passive prostheses designed for hand replacement.
• To consolidate current knowledge regarding the users, applications, functionality, and limitations of passive prosthetic hands and tools.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was performed using four electronic databases.
• Relevant English-language articles were identified through a Boolean search strategy combining pertinent keywords.
• Thirty-eight papers were selected for inclusion in the final review.

Main Results:

• Publications on passive prosthetic hands detail user demographics, usage patterns, functional capabilities, and challenges in daily living activities.
• Research on prosthetic tools primarily addresses applications in sports, recreation, and vehicle operation.
• The review identified ambiguous terminology for passive prostheses, causing classification confusion.

Conclusions:

• Passive hand prostheses are utilized by one in three individuals with limb deficiencies but receive disproportionately little research attention.
• Improvements in pulling and grasping functions are indicated as key areas for development in passive prostheses.
• A novel classification system for passive prostheses is proposed to address existing terminology ambiguities and enhance clinical relevance and acceptance.