Abstract:
The surgical treatment by targeted muscle reinnervation has been applied to
more than 25 patients after traumatic loss of upper extremities in North America.
In November 2006 this procedure was applied for the first time to a patient in
Europe. The 18- year-old male patient suffered from bilateral limb loss after a high
voltage accident, which happened in October 2006. The patient ended up with a
medium long transhumeral residual limb on the right side and a shoulder
disarticulation on the left side.
He did undergo a primary rehabilitation at the rehabilitation center "Weisser Hof"
and left rehabilitation after three months. The right side was fitted with a
DynamicArm®, a wrist rotator and a SensorHand Speed. The system was controlled
by the EMG signals of the biceps and the triceps. The switching between levels was
achieved by co-contraction. The left side was fitted by a cosmetically arm with
minimal functionality since trial fittings with functional arms failed.
