Valenton

This research focuses on adults with bilateral traumatic amputation of both forearms, a rare condition that greatly affects independence and quality of life. The study evaluates two approaches bilateral hand and forearm allografts transplants and the use of prosthetic forehands. It aims to compare these options in terms of costs, quality of life, usefulness, satisfaction, autonomy, and social integration. The study builds on previous work that demonstrated the feasibility and functional benefits of bilateral hand grafts, despite the need for immunosuppressive treatment and potential medical complications. Participants receive either a bilateral allograft of the hands and forearms or prosthetic forehands. The transplant group must meet specific medical and psychological criteria, including a minimum of three months since amputation and no recent cancer history. The prosthetic group uses prosthetic devices for limb replacement. This non-randomized study conducted by Hospices Civils de Lyon compares these two treatment approaches over a 36-month period. During the study, researchers will monitor treatment costs over 36 months as the primary outcome. Participants will be assessed for quality of life, autonomy, satisfaction, and social integration. Medical evaluations include psychological assessments, kidney function, heart function, and blood pressure control for the transplant group. The study runs until October 2031, and participants will be regularly evaluated to understand the long-term impact and benefits of each treatment option.

Researchers are investigating how people with upper limb amputations experience the illusion of a rubber hand when using different types of prostheses, including aesthetic, mechanical, and myoelectric. This study aims to compare how strongly patients incorporate their prosthesis into their body image by replacing the traditional rubber hand with their own prosthesis. Participants will serve as their own comparison group in this observational study. Participants will experience a modified version of the rubber hand illusion with their prosthesis in two ways synchronously and asynchronously. During the synchronous method, the residual limb and prosthesis are touched at the same time for at least two minutes, while in the asynchronous method, they are touched at different times. After each experience, participants will point to where they felt the touch and complete questionnaires designed to assess their perception. Throughout the study, participants proprioceptive drift will be measured immediately after the interventions to assess how they perceive the location of touch. Researchers will also evaluate appropriate affect immediately after the interventions and consider patient characteristics during baseline inclusion. The study involves completing questionnaires and pointing tasks, with no masking or blinding, and participants will be monitored during their inclusion period. The total study duration and follow-up details are not specified.

This research aims to assess how a prosthetic foot with an adjustable heel height affects physical appearance and social participation in adults with major lower limb amputations. The study addresses the challenge that most prosthetic feet have a fixed heel height, which limits users to wearing shoes with the same heel height. Being able to choose different shoes freely is important for coping with physical disability and maintaining lifestyle preferences. Participants will use two types of prosthetic feet in a randomized order. One device is the Taleo Adjust foot, which features a hydraulic ankle allowing adjustable heel heights from 0 to 7 cm to match different shoe types without compromising walking quality. The other is the participants usual energy storage and return ESR foot with a fixed heel height. Each foot will be worn for 30 days, with participants either starting with the Taleo Adjust foot then switching to their usual foot, or vice versa. During the study, participants will be assessed using questionnaires and scales that measure appearance satisfaction, functional ability, psychosocial impact, device satisfaction, quality of life, mobility, and socket comfort. The primary outcome is the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire - Appearance scale after 30 days of use for each foot. The study includes monitoring participant experiences and measuring how the adjustable heel foot influences daily activities and social participation over the two 30-day periods.