Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Congenitally Deficient Upper Limbs

Knowledge of the anatomic location, size, and contractility of muscles within a person's congenitally deficient upper limb is useful in prescribing and fitting a myoelectric prosthesis. In 1998, at University of Texas' Hermann Hospital, magnetic resonance imaging (MM) was used to image both arms of five volunteers with congenital unilateral below elbow upper limb deficiences. Imaging both arms of each subject enables a direct comparison of normal and residual limb anatomy. The volunteers included one adult and four teenagers. This paper summarizes findings on residual versus sound side musculature size, limb size, and selected residual limb features.