Prosthetic Arms Operate Through Thoughts

A few weeks ago, Hank Esmond would not have dreamed that he would be operating his prosthetic arms through his thoughts. Esmond is the first upper extremity amputee in Indiana to be fit with the DynamicArm TMR manufactured by Otto Bock. Advanced Arm Dynamics, the nation’s leading provider of upper extremity prostheses, working with Sam Santa-Rita, CP, owner of SRT (Superior Rehabilitation Techniques) based in Ft. Wayne, recently fit Esmond with his first set of prosthetic limbs.

TMR surgery takes nerves that once went to an amputee's arm and hand and transfers them to new muscle sites, essentially rewiring the nerves and muscles. The signals from those nerves and muscles subsequently allow a patient to control their prosthesis. The TMR surgery has been performed on just a few upper extremity amputees worldwide.

Esmond recently underwent a TMR surgery for his shoulder disarticulation amputation. In the fall of 2008, Hank Esmond, working as a high-power lineman, lost both his limbs when 7200 volts of electricity shot through his body. Esmond is utilizing the first production model of the DynamicArm TMR elbow from Otto Bock which is programmed currently to use 5 inputs of the available 8 to control the prosthesis right now.

“As with all TMR procedures, nerves are rewired onto muscles that have limited function because of limb loss. During the healing phase of the rewiring process, we are able to use the new Otto Bock DynamicArm TMR so that we can fit patients earlier in the rehabilitation process. We can customize the input devices and control schemes in order to maximize their potential and continue to make updates while the new TMR sites get stronger; a process that will take up to 8 or 9 months," says Pat Prigge, CP, a clinician with Advanced Arm Dynamics.

“To this day, we still aren’t sure what happened but I can’t let it get me down. This new technology allows me more independence and more self sufficiency to take care of things on my own,” Esmond states.

Brooke O’Steen, OTR/L, an occupational therapist with Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Ft. Wayne has been working with Esmond on the rehabilitation process.

“After hours spent together working on the rehabilitation phase of his treatment, it is great to see the progress Hank is making with the new DynamicArm TMR. I get really emotional when I see what he has done,” O'Steen comments.

Phil Baker is another Indiana upper extremity amputee using the DynamicArm TMR but unlike Esmond has not yet had the TMR surgery. Working as a dump truck driver, Baker lost his limb in a roll over dump truck accident last year. He is planning on having the TMR surgery but while he is waiting the team at SRT and Advanced Arm Dynamics has set him up with the DynamicArm TMR as well and has configured it much the way they would a standard arm.

“The exciting thing, here again, is that we have so many options to pick from and we can modify and change Mr. Baker’s input scheme both now, and all the way through his TMR surgery always making it as intuitive as possible,” says Sam Santa-Rita CP, LP, owner of SRT.

"I try not to let it change my life. I really didn’t think it could be this functional,” Baker says. “This new technology is all about having more control and independence as an amputee.”

About Advanced Arm Dynamics
Advanced Arm Dynamics, Inc. (AAD) is the nation’s leading provider of upper extremity prosthetic rehabilitation services. AAD empowers patients to return to work and lead active lifestyles by working with each patient throughout the fitting and rehabilitation process. The company’s services include state-of-the art technologies and techniques, rehabilitation planning, insurance justification and authorization negotiations, occupational therapy and psychological counseling and a patient-to-patient mentoring program. Advanced Arm Dynamics Centers of Excellence facilities are located in Texas, Iowa and Oregon. For additional information on Advanced Arm Dynamics, please visit our Web site at www.armdynamics.com.