Valenton

This research focuses on adults aged 18 to 60 who have experienced the rare and serious condition of double amputation of both forearms. It evaluates and compares two treatment strategies: bilateral allograft (transplant) of the hands and forearms versus the use of prosthetic forehands. The aim is to assess these options in terms of costs, quality of life, usefulness, satisfaction, autonomy, and social integration, building on previous findings that hand transplants can restore autonomy but require immunosuppressive treatment. Participants may receive either a bilateral allograft of the hands and forearms or prosthetic forehands. The transplant group must meet specific health criteria, such as having had their amputation at least three months prior and no severe psychiatric or uncontrolled medical conditions. The study compares the two approaches, considering both medical and economic outcomes over time. During the study, researchers will monitor costs and other important outcomes over 36 months. They will assess autonomy, quality of life, and social integration, along with medical complications related to treatments. The study builds on earlier results showing that hand transplants can help patients regain function and return to work, despite the need for ongoing immunosuppression and possible risks. This evaluation will help guide treatment choices for patients with bilateral upper limb amputations.

This research aims to understand how people with upper limb amputations experience the illusion of a rubber hand when using different types of prostheses, including aesthetic, mechanical, and myoelectric. The study focuses on how strongly patients incorporate their prosthesis into their body image by replacing the rubber hand with their own prosthesis during the experiment. Participants will serve as their own comparison to explore this effect. During the study, participants will undergo two versions of the rubber hand illusion: synchronous and asynchronous. In both, the patient's residual limb will be hidden from view while their prosthesis and other hand remain visible. In the synchronous version, the prosthesis and residual limb are touched at the same time for at least two minutes. In the asynchronous version, the touches happen at different times for the same duration. After each session, participants will point to where they felt the touch on a measurement grid and complete questionnaires. Participants will be adults with at least one upper limb amputation who have agreed to join the study. They will complete the illusion tasks and answer questionnaires about their experience. Researchers will measure proprioceptive drift immediately after the intervention to assess the strength of the illusion. Monitoring will focus on participants' responses and how they perceive the prosthesis during the tasks.

This research investigates the impact of a prosthetic foot with an adjustable heel height on physical appearance and participation for adults with major lower limb amputations. Most prosthetic feet have a fixed heel height, which limits users to shoes of the same heel height and restricts their choice of footwear. The study aims to address this limitation by evaluating a device that allows users to freely choose different types of shoes, enhancing their ability to cope with physical disability. The study compares the Taleo Adjust prosthetic foot, which features a hydraulic ankle allowing heel height adjustment from 0 to 7 cm, with the participant's usual Energy Storage and Return (ESR) prosthetic foot that has a fixed heel height. The adjustable foot preserves prosthetic alignment and walking quality across different heel heights. Participants will use both types of prosthetic feet in a randomized crossover design to assess differences. Participants will be evaluated through the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire focusing on appearance after 30 days of use. Researchers will monitor physical appearance, social participation, and user satisfaction related to the adjustable heel height feature. The study includes assessments of walking ability with various shoe types and barefoot, with ongoing monitoring of alignment, comfort, and participation outcomes throughout the study period.