Advancing Prosthetic Care Access on the Thailand-Burma Border Through Open-Source Technology

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Global Health
• Humanitarian Technology

Background:

• Myanmar's civil war has disrupted healthcare, creating critical prosthetic shortages for refugees on the Thai border.
• Limited access to prosthetics is due to high costs, resource scarcity, and movement restrictions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail a collaboration between Queen's University and the Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) to enhance a 3-D-printed prosthetic program.
• To address technical limitations and improve design autonomy in prosthetic care for displaced populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized open-source 3-D printing technology and a student mobility program since 2019.
• Employed low-cost 3-D scanning and CAD to customize open-source transradial prosthetics for improved fit and suspension.
• Prioritized local capacity building through CAD training and implementing filament dryers to reduce printing errors.

Main Results:

• Provided free prostheses to 76 individuals between 2019 and 2024, including five customized below-elbow designs.
• Pilot evaluations showed high recipient satisfaction and functionality with no adverse effects.
• Demonstrated successful local staff training in CAD for design autonomy.

Conclusions:

• Academic-NGO partnerships can effectively leverage adaptable, open-source technology for prosthetic care.
• This framework offers a feasible model for delivering equitable prosthetic solutions in resource-constrained, conflict-affected regions.
• The program successfully enhanced prosthetic accessibility and recipient outcomes through technological innovation and local empowerment.