Articles tagged with Amputation
MIT researchers have developed a magnet-based system to track muscle length during movement, which could improve the accuracy of prosthetic limb control. The system uses small magnets implanted in muscle and measures distances between them using a credit-card-sized sensor.
A new day-case surgical procedure for diabetic foot ulcers has been shown to accelerate effective healing, reduce recurrence, and prevent amputations. The procedure, which involves adjusting the mechanics of the foot, was found to be effective in treating up to 19 patients with successful ulcer resolution in just 3-4 weeks.
A UBC Okanagan researcher suggests changing fur trapping practices to prevent accidental grizzly bear toe amputations. By delaying the start of the trapping season from November 1 to early December, trappers can avoid catching bears during their hibernation period.
A machine learning model developed by Canadian and Slovenian researchers accurately predicted fall risk in lower limb amputees, achieving up to 80% accuracy. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of smartphone-based fall detection systems.
A Mayo Clinic study found that patients with severe brachial plexus injuries who undergo amputation experience reduced mechanical shoulder pain and higher employment rates. The study also showed improved prosthetic use among patients with myoelectric prostheses, suggesting a potential benefit to amputation for some individuals.
Researchers have developed a new type of prosthetic using microfluidics-enabled soft robotics that promises to greatly reduce skin ulcerations and pain in patients who have had an amputation between the ankle and knee. The prosthesis uses integrated pneumatic actuators to control fit, reducing volume changes and pressure ulcers.
New research from King's College London found that members of the British Armed Forces who were physically injured while fighting in Afghanistan are more likely to experience poor mental health, including depression and PTSD. The study also suggests that the type of injury sustained can influence the overall outcome.
Patients with diabetes who participate in a free Annual Wellness Visit are 36% less likely to need an amputation, according to a new study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. This preventive care service helps detect foot complications earlier, reducing the risk of amputations.
Researchers and academics from the UK and Germany come together to discuss therapeutic footwear for people with diabetes. The workshop aims to establish new research links and develop research capacity to improve the lives of those affected.
A new study reveals that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act has led to a significant decrease in diabetic foot amputations among racial and ethnic minority adults. The study found that this expansion has resulted in better healthcare outcomes for these underserved populations, reducing rates of diabetes-related major ampu...
A large cohort study of almost 125,000 patients found that diabetic foot ulcer outcomes are associated with race, ethnicity, and rurality. Higher rates were observed among rural and Black patients, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address health disparities.
A recent study found a relative improvement in diabetic foot ulcers among African American and Hispanic populations in states that expanded Medicaid. This reduction in amputation rates is attributed to increased access to healthcare services, including regular monitoring and treatment of diabetes-related complications.
Researchers successfully used composite tissue transfer techniques from face transplant surgery for 'autotransplantation' of avulsed facial tissues. The technique involves re reconnecting the patient's own blood vessels to restore circulation, allowing for successful replantation without postoperative complications.
Four IIT researchers have been awarded €150,000 each from the European Research Council to develop groundbreaking technologies addressing health challenges, such as tumours, blindness, and amputations. Their projects aim to substitute critical raw materials in electronics and create multisensory systems for visually impaired infants.
A team of scientists at the University of Missouri used small wearable sensors to gather data on how people with a traumatic hand amputation use a prosthesis versus a transplanted hand. The study found that hand transplant recipients exhibit a more balanced pattern of limb use, while prosthesis users rely heavily on their prosthetic hand.
The Tennessee AgrAbility Project has received new funding from the USDA, bolstering its impact and success into 2022. The program, a collaboration between the University of Tennessee Extension and NIFA, assists farmers and farm workers with disabilities by providing support, resources, and equipment to enhance their quality of life.
Researchers developed a powered exoskeleton that provides extra energy for walking, reducing the strain on amputee muscles. The device was tested by six individuals with above-knee amputations, showing a 15.6% improvement in metabolic rate and allowing users to walk for extended periods.
A 20-year study shows a 40% decrease in amputation rates among people with type 1 diabetes in Sweden. Improved treatment of risk factors such as blood sugar levels and kidney function contributed to the trend reversal.
Researchers created a bionic arm that combines intuitive motor control with touch and hand movement sensation, enabling wearers to think and behave like a person without an amputation. The system's bi-directional feedback and control allowed study participants to perform tasks with similar accuracy as non-disabled people.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people with peripheral artery disease (PAD) living in poor or Black metropolitan areas have higher amputation rates. The analysis also noted significant disparities in healthcare access and quality among different racial and socioeconomic groups.
A recent study found that rates of minor lower extremity amputations increased between 2009 and 2017 in rural and Western American residents, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. Major LEAs rates remained steady during the period with notable increases in White populations and rural areas.
A synthetic hinge concept developed by Indiana University School of Medicine Professor Michael A. Weiss and his team could lead to a breakthrough in 'smart' insulin therapy. The invention exploits a natural mechanism that allows the insulin to adjust its activity based on blood glucose levels, which could transform diabetes care.
Researchers at Staffordshire University have developed a novel, low-cost method to detect foot ulcer risk without electronic sensors. This new technique uses 3D-printed structures to identify areas with high pressure, enabling clinicians to prescribe custom footwear or insoles.
A new stem cell therapy has induced regeneration of blood vessels surrounding non-healing diabetic foot ulcers, accelerating healing. The treatment uses adult stem cells harvested from fat tissue, demonstrating a novel cell injection therapy that can alleviate pain and infection.
Researchers at MIT have invented a new type of amputation surgery that reconnects muscle pairs, allowing patients to regain sensory feedback and control their residual muscles. This restored sense of proprioception translates to better control of prosthetic limbs and reduced limb pain.
Researchers developed an agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI) that restored physiological feedback, enabling greater precision of movement and reducing pain in amputees. Studies showed improved muscle activity coordination and lower pain levels compared to traditional amputation procedures.
Hannes, a biomimetic hand prosthetic, has been developed to replicate human hand movement and grasp properties. It has shown improved performance compared to existing devices, enabling patients to perform daily activities with ease.
Researchers found that patients with diabetes and gout are at a higher risk of undergoing amputations compared to those without the conditions. The combined condition was associated with an amputation rate of 0.77 percent, significantly higher than the 0.03 percent in those without either disease.
After a 5-year follow-up, bone-anchored leg prostheses show significant improvements in daily functioning, mobility, and quality of life for patients with above-knee amputations. Despite initial stoma problems, these prostheses lead to permanent benefits, including increased prosthesis use and improved health-related quality of life.
A new study led by IU School of Medicine aims to identify a biomarker that predicts wound recurrence in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. The goal is to develop an advanced approach to manage these wounds, potentially decreasing amputation rates nationwide.
Researchers found reduced brain structure and connection in individuals with body integrity dysphoria, linked to feelings of amputation. The study suggests specific brain anomalies may contribute to the desire for amputation, potentially leading to improved treatment options.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed mind-controlled arm prostheses that deliver sensations of touch, revolutionizing prosthetic technology. The new neuromusculoskeletal prosthesis is connected to the user's nerves, muscles, and skeleton, enabling patients with arm amputations to experience a sense of touch i...
Between 2005 and 2014, the number of veterans hospitalized due to critical limb ischemia decreased by 17%, with mortality rates dropping from 12% to 10%. Patients who underwent revascularization procedures were 55% less likely to die and 77% less likely to undergo amputation.
A meta-analysis of severe frostbite injuries found promising results using intraarterial and intravenous tissue plasminogen activator to reduce amputation rates. The study included 209 patients treated with thrombolytic therapy, resulting in a salvage rate of 76%.
The global diabetes epidemic is reaching epidemic levels, with 425 million people affected and projected to increase to over 600 million. The book 'Traveling with Sugar' examines the havoc diabetes has caused in Belize, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure for treating the condition.
A study by the American Heart Association found that less-invasive leg artery procedures are as effective as open surgery in preventing amputations and improving survival rates. Patients who received endovascular procedures first had longer periods of amputation-free survival compared to those treated with open surgery.
Researchers at the University of Bath have created a new way to design and manufacture personalized prosthetic liners in under a day. This innovative approach uses computer science and 3D scanning to create affordable, comfortable liners that reduce pressure on the residual limb, promoting healthy walking habits.
A study published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research found that low-income patients are at higher risk of above-knee amputation after periprosthetic joint infection. The researchers analyzed data from a nationally representative hospital database and found that patients living in areas with lower incomes were 58% more likely...
Researchers develop small capsules from brown algae that hold macrophages, increasing blood flow to damaged limbs. The treatment aims to reduce the need for amputations in people with CLI, a condition affecting up to 60,000 new cases per year in the UK.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that brain areas responsible for movement and sensation alter their functional communication after a limb amputation. Researchers discovered that sensitive and motor areas of the brain exhibited abnormal patterns of communication among hemispheres, even in patients without phantom pain.
Patients with kidney failure who undergo lower extremity amputation have prolonged stays in healthcare settings, limited access to hospice services, and a poorer prognosis. These findings highlight the need for improved end-of-life care for this group of seriously ill patients.
Researchers found that the brain stores detailed information of a missing hand in amputees, regardless of phantom limb sensations. The study could pave the way for next-generation neuroprosthetics and suggests daily life experience shapes fine-grained aspects of hand representation.
Surgeons perform primary targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) to reduce phantom limb and stump pain in amputees. The procedure, done at the time of initial amputation, greatly improves patient outcomes and quality of life.
Researchers found that SGLT2 inhibitors are associated with a two-fold increased risk of lower limb amputation and diabetic ketoacidosis compared to GLP1 receptor agonists. However, the use of these drugs was not linked to other serious adverse events.
A study by Hwan Choi and colleagues found that powered ankle prosthetics can reduce metabolic costs for individuals with transtibial amputations. By adjusting the power setting, users can improve their walking ability and increase activity levels, reducing the risk of health consequences such as diabetes and cardiac disease.
A new prosthetic hand system has been developed by Arizona State University researchers, allowing users to feel sensations in their phantom limbs. The Neural-Enabled Prosthetic Hand (NEPH) system has restored sensation and confidence in daily tasks for the first time, with potential applications to lower limb amputations.
Scientists at Tufts University have found that amputation of one limb immediately reflects in the bioelectric properties of the opposing, un-damaged limb in developing frogs. The phenomenon, dubbed 'bioelectric injury mirroring,' indicates that information about damage to tissues is available within 30 seconds.
A new study reveals that diuretic drug use in individuals with type 2 diabetes is associated with a significantly increased risk of serious problems in their lower limbs, leading to amputation. The research found that diuretics should be used cautiously in patients at risk of amputations.
Researchers analyzed 51,000 lawnmower injury-related emergency department visits between 2006 and 2013, finding that the majority were in men, with children up to age 4 being six times more likely to have foot/toe or lower extremity injuries
Researchers found that treatments restoring blood flow to the lower limbs of people with critical limb ischemia can lead to longer survival and reduced healthcare costs compared to amputation. The study analyzed Medicare records of over 72,000 patients diagnosed with primary critical limb ischemia between 2010 and 2015.
Researchers have developed a novel approach to limb amputation that preserves dynamic muscle relationships, enabling patients to feel the movement of their prosthetic limbs. This new paradigm, called the agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI), has been successfully implemented in a human patient with below-knee amputation.
Researchers developed a new neural interface paradigm that preserves dynamic muscle relationships in amputated limbs, allowing for proprioceptive feedback and movement commands. The technique improved sensation and control of prosthetic limbs, enabling people with artificial limbs to move more efficiently and naturally.
A team of researchers has developed a method to restore natural movement sensation in patients with prosthetic arms, enhancing control and independence. The breakthrough uses small robots to vibrate muscles, allowing patients to feel their missing limbs move and manipulate their prostheses with improved fine motor control.
A recent study found that certain brain changes following limb amputation in children can be reversed through bilateral hand transplantation. The lead author suggests that the brain preserves functional areas and reactivates them upon recovery of the hands.
Researchers detected massive changes in how sensations from hands are represented in a child's brain before and after a successful double hand transplant. The brain remapping is thought to have begun six years before the transplant and reverted toward a more typical pattern after receiving transplanted hands.
Researchers have discovered that amputees can rewire their brains to control a robotic arm through electrodes implanted in the brain. The study found that chronic amputees can create new connections between brain areas, even years after an amputation, and that these connections become more robust with training.
A study comparing diabetes foot care regions in England found that areas with comprehensive services had significantly lower rates of major amputations. The introduction of key services, including podiatry staffing and orthotist availability, led to improved outcomes.
Researchers used ultra-high field fMRI to map brain pathways in patients with amputations who underwent TMSR. The study found that the brain's motor and somatosensory maps were preserved, but connections with higher-level embodiment regions were weak. Future prosthetics should implement systematic somatosensory feedback to enable patie...
A study comparing diabetes foot care services across England found that areas with 10 key services had lower rates of major lower limb amputations. These services include administrative support, standardized screening, and effective care pathways.
The COMPASS trial found that the combination of rivaroxaban and aspirin reduces major adverse cardiovascular and limb events by 31%, lowering cardiovascular death, stroke or heart attack by 28% and limb-threatening ischaemia by 46%. Rivaroxaban alone does not reduce major adverse cardiovascular events but lowers major adverse limb events.