title: Myoelectric hand prostheses in very young children.
abstract: Myoelectric prostheses have generally been provided for adolescent or adult patients. The availability of smaller-sized electric hands has enabled the introduction of myoelectric prostheses to preschool children, mainly in the Scandinavian countries. This study evaluates the acceptance of myoelectric prostheses in 41 children with unilateral upper limb deficiency between the ages of two and five years. The prosthesis was used for an average time of 5.8 hours per day. The level of amputation was found to influence the acceptance rate. Furthermore, prosthetic use training by an occupational therapist is related to successful use of the prosthesis. The general drop-out rate in preschool children is very low compared to adults. Therefore, infants can profit from myoelectric hand prostheses. Since a correct indication and an intense training program significantly influence the acceptance rate, introduction of myoelectric prostheses to preschool children should take place at specialised centres with an interdisciplinary team.
authors.affiliation: Stiftung Orthopädische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200a, 69118, Heidelberg, Germany. marcus.egermann@ok.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egermann
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kasten
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomsen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome