Real-World Use of Trans-Radial Prostheses and Their Involvement in Activities of Daily Living Among Upper Limb Amputees in Sri Lanka: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The loss of an upper-limb results in a major and sudden restriction of functions, sensations, and aesthetic appearance. Upper limb prostheses must meet high-performance standards in order to restore lost functionality and enable amputees to go about their daily lives. It is, however, uncertain whether the current prosthetic designs in Sri Lanka have been seriously considered in light of the personal, social, and environmental factors necessary to fulfill that demand. The purpose of this study is to better understand how amputees perform their daily and leisure activities, as well as their adaptability to the prosthesis in social participation. An experienced interviewer administered a questionnaire, designed to analyze the occasions and extent of prosthetic use in personal and social life, to 26 trans-radial amputees, who received care from Meththa Rehabilitation Foundation, over the phone. The study showed that 65% of amputees use their prostheses for less than two hours, and the main reasons for that are appearance and comfort. Despite the fact that wearable time is limited, all of the subjects interviewed used their prostheses at least once per day. This suggests that there is good potential for a properly designed upper limb prosthesis. Moreover, the prosthetic users were neutral with the satisfaction of carrying out essential daily tasks, whereas they were quite dissatisfied with their ability to carry out leisure activities (n=21). Most of the amputees wear their prostheses during grasping/holding/lifting activities (64%), thus giving a direction for future development. This study, the use of trans-radial prosthesis in a social-related environment and personal factors on perceived function, provides a unique insight into the field of upper limb prosthetic devices. Despite the abundance of research and improvements being made to prosthetic devices, investigations into the effects of these advancements on real-life use and user satisfaction have not been conducted.