A BIONIC HAND VS. A REPLANTED HAND.

Objective: Evaluation of the hand function affected when replacing a malfunctioning hand by a bionic hand.

Design: Case report.

Subjects: One individual that wished for a better quality of life after unsatisfying hand function following a replantation.

The rubber hand illusion evaluated using different stimulation modalities.

Tactile feedback plays a vital role in inducing ownership and improving motor control of prosthetic hands. However, commercially available prosthetic hands typically do not provide tactile feedback and because of that the prosthetic user must rely on visual input to adjust the grip. The classical rubber hand illusion (RHI) where a brush is stroking the rubber hand, and the user's hidden hand synchronously can induce ownership of a rubber hand.

Sensory Feedback in Hand Prostheses: A Prospective Study of Everyday Use.

Introduction: Sensory feedback in hand prostheses is lacking but wished for. Many amputees experience a phantom hand map on their residual forearm. When the phantom hand map is touched, it is experienced as touch on the amputated hand.

Touch on predefined areas on the forearm can be associated with specific fingers: Towards a new principle for sensory feedback in hand prostheses.

Objective: Currently available hand prostheses lack sensory feedback. A "phantom hand map", a referred sensation, on the skin of the residual arm is a possible target to provide amputees with non-invasive somatotopically matched sensory feedback. How-ever, not all amputees experience a phantom hand map.

A review of invasive and non-invasive sensory feedback in upper limb prostheses.

The constant challenge to restore sensory feedback in prosthetic hands has provided several research solutions, but virtually none has reached clinical fruition. A prosthetic hand with sensory feedback that closely imitates an intact hand and provides a natural feeling may induce the prosthetic hand to be included in the body image and also reinforces the control of the prosthesis. Areas covered: This review presents non-invasive sensory feedback systems such as mechanotactile, vibrotactile, electrotactile and combinational systems which combine the modalities; multi-haptic feedback.

Sensory qualities of the phantom hand map in the residual forearm of amputees.

Objective: Most amputees experience referred sensations, known as a phantom hand map, on the residual forearm, where touch on specific areas is perceived as touch on the amputated hand. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensory qualities of the phantom hand map.

Methods: In 10 traumatic forearm-amputees touch thres-holds and discriminative touch of the phantom hand map were assessed and compared with corresponding areas on the contralateral forearm.

Forearm amputees' views of prosthesis use and sensory feedback.

Study Design: Qualitative descriptive.

Introduction: The lack of sensory feedback in today's hand prostheses has been in focus recently but the amputees' experiences need to be further investigated.

Purpose: To explore forearm amputees' views of prosthesis use and sensory feedback.

The concurrent validity of the Amharic version of Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA) in persons affected by leprosy.

Objectives: Leprosy is endemic in many countries and results in activity limitations. There is a need for assessment tools to guide professionals in their evaluation and choice of intervention in order to improve conditions for leprosy-affected people. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the concurrent validity of the Amharic version of Screening of Activity Limitation and Safety Awareness (SALSA-am) scale with Amharic version of Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH-am) questionnaire.

Outcomes of proximal interphalangeal joint pyrocarbon implants.

Purpose: To prospectively register and report the hand function and occupational performance of patients with proximal interphalangeal joint-pyrocarbon arthroplasty, using both objective tests and subjective outcome instruments.

Methods: From 2004 to 2008, 53 joints in 43 patients were reconstructed with a proximal interphalangeal joint-pyrocarbon prosthesis. The patients underwent a rehabilitation program allowing early motion with an extension stop to limit hyperextension.