title: Occupational therapy protocol for amputees with targeted muscle reinnervation.
abstract: Targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) is a surgical intervention to improve the control of myoelectric prostheses in high-level upper-limb amputation. This article briefly describes the procedure and presents the protocol for postoperative, preprosthetic care. We also recommend a guide to patient training using standard-of-care prosthetic devices controlled by up to four intuitive, independent, and isolated myoelectric signals. We discuss the advantages of this new control paradigm and methods for optimizing clinical outcomes for patients with high-level upper-limb amputations. This material is based on more than 6 years of experience treating patients with TMR in a research setting. Detailed results of this research are reported elsewhere.
authors.affiliation: Neural Engineering Center for Artificial Limbs, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Suite 1309, 345 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. k-stubblefield@northwestern.edu
authors.forename: Kathy A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Stubblefield
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Lipschutz
authors.forename: Todd A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kuiken
mesh_terms: D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D016067:Nerve Transfer; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D011597:Psychomotor Performance