Experiences and Outcomes With Powered Partial Hand Prostheses

In Brief Powered partial hand prostheses are a relatively new option in the prosthetic treatment of persons with partial hand amputations. This article presents the provision of a powered partial hand prosthesis (ProDigit; Touch Bionics, Livingston, UK) in a case series of three subjects. Selected outcome measures to evaluate the prosthesis included the Box and Blocks Test, the Jebsen-Taylor Test of Hand Function, and the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Assessment (QuickDASH). Evaluations were made at three time points: before receiving the prosthesis, shortly after delivery of the prosthesis, and follow-up after 45 days. Subject perceptions were positive, whereas outcome measures were mixed. Our experiences suggest that powered partial hand prostheses warrant further study. For this investigation, improvement in the ability to carry out activities of daily living using partial hand prostheses is evaluated in three case studies of subjects presenting with multiple-limb amputations. Each of the subjects represented unique challenges for prosthetic fitting and have revealed unique outcomes in their abilities to utilize their partial hand prosthesis in ADLs.