Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Therapy Interventions for Upper Limb Amputees Undergoing Selective Nerve Transfers
Published on: October 29, 2021
Prosthesis receipt is associated with improved participation and pain interference following upper limb amputation
Bretta L Fylstra1, Kristin E Nalivaika1, Dwiesha L England1
1Hanger Institute for Clinical Research and Education, Austin, TX, USA.
Purpose:
Following upper limb amputation (ULA), resuming everyday activities is a primary goal for patients. In many cases, a prosthesis can assist patients by increasing physical function and overall well-being. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between prosthesis receipt and two domains - Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (APSRA) and Pain Interference (PI).
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective cross-sectional review of outcomes collected across private prosthetic clinics in the United States was performed. Individuals were included if they had an outcome collected before prosthesis receipt and within twelve months after prosthesis receipt. There were no exclusions based on level of amputation, etiology, or device type.
Results:
Univariate model results demonstrated a significant improvement in average APSRA (Baseline: 41.5±8.2 and Follow-up: 46.7±9.1, p<0.001). Additionally, PI significantly improved (Baseline: 58.5±8.5 and Follow-up: 54.9±9.3, p<0.001). These significant differences persisted when accounting for confounders such as age, hours worn, sex, amputation level, time since amputation, and time from first prosthesis delivery to follow-up.
Conclusions:
Prosthesis receipt improved individuals' ability to increase their activity and participation. This coincided with improvements in pain interference. Results from this study can aid clinical decision-making for clinicians and patients as they explore interventions following ULA.
