Patient perspectives on benefits and risks of implantable interfaces for upper limb prostheses: a national survey

Objective: Patient perspectives on benefits and risks of implantable interfaces for prostheses are needed. Methods: A telephone survey was administered to 808 Veterans. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with willingness to consider surgery to restore touch and better movement control. Risk and benefit ratings were compared. Results: 41.8% of unilateral and 40.6% of bilateral amputees were willing to consider surgery for touch; 49.0% were willing to consider surgery for control. Persons 65-75 years and >75 were 0.42 (p= 0.0009) and 0.19 (p< 0.0001) as likely as those 18-45 to consider surgery for touch, those with better mental health (MH) were 0.47 (p= 0.0005) as likely as those with worse, and those with infection etiology were 1.7 (p= 0.03) as likely as those without. Persons 65-75 and >75 were 0.28 and 0.12 as likely as those 18-45 to consider surgery for control (p's<0.0001). Myoelectric users were 2.16 (p= 0.006) as likely as body-powered users and persons with better MH were 0.61 (p= 0.03) as likely as those with worse to consider surgery for control. Long-term risks were most unacceptable. Durability, comfort, and improved functional abilities were most important. Conclusions: There is substantial interest in prosthetic interfaces to gain a sense of touch and greater movement control.