Myoelectric and body-powered prostheses

One hundred twenty below-elbow child amputees compared cosmetically identical myoelectric (MYO) and body-powered (BP) hands after wearing each for 3 months; 78% chose the MYO and 22% chose the BP. However, at 2-year follow-up, only 44% wore the MYO, 33% used a BP hand or hook, and 23% became nonwearers (NW). Eighty percent of children aged > or = 8 years used active prosthetic prehension for both the MYO and BP prostheses. Comparatively, only 30% aged < 8 years and 0% aged < 5 years demonstrated any active prosthetic prehension. Active BP wearers were clearly most pleased with the features of their prostheses.