Artificial Limbs Attached Directly To Human Skeleton

[Mary]

Scientists from University College London have created a technology that allows artificial limbs to be connected directly into the human skeleton. The scientists say that the technique, which involves securing a titanium rod directly into bone, breaches the skin - but there is no risk of infection.

The scientists have been very encouraged by initial clinical trial results. The trials took place at Mount Vernon Hospital, Middlesex, England. The volunteers were patients who had lost their fingers and/or thumbs. Further trials using arms and legs are planned. It is possible that people who lost limbs during the July 7th, 2005, London bomb attacks could take part.

This technique, called Intraosseous Transcutaneous Amputation Prosthesis (ITAP), could eventually lead to artificial limbs which are controlled by the central nervous system.

With the use of a titanium rod an artificial limb can be directly attached to the human bone. To date, all artificial limbs are strapped onto the outside of the body - they do not breach the skin.

The scientists say the skin fuses around the rod and forms a seal, this prevents infection.

Prof. Gordon Blunn and Dr. Catharine Pendegrass studied how deer antlers perforate the skin without infection coming through. Using the observations, they designed the way the titanium rod could breach the skin and attach to the bone.

You can read about this breakthrough in the *Journal of Anatomy*.

If all goes well, we could be a couple of years away from replacing fingers and thumbs and about five years away from replacing upper and lower limbs.

People who use prosthetic limbs experiences numbness and soreness because the artificial limb presses against the skin, usually the stump. With this technique the soreness and/or numbness just would not happen.

*Journal of Anatomy* Volume 209 Page 59 - July 2006 doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00595.x Volume 209 Issue 1 *Nature's answer to breaching the skin barrier: an innovative development for amputees* C. J. Pendegrass, A. E. Goodship, J. S. Price and G. W. Blunn
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/healthnews.php?newsid=46475&nfid=nl+

[Mary]

Veterinarians have successfully used prosthetics that directly attached to a dog's own leg bone (with a stem like many of us have between a bone and an endoprosthesis).

You can see this awesome advance on video now! The benefit of this to humans would be amazing! No more socket sores, no multiple leg fittings, and the ability to feel more between the bone and the prosthesis (better balance and mobility).

[Katie_B]

We went to the BCRT conference this weekend and the prosthetic guy was talking and showing slides about this, it was very interesting.  He did say to us that there was a risk of infection as it is a open wound all the time, as the skin doesn't really heal around the metal, and this is what they were currently doing to try and minimise the infection risk.