Osseointegration: A new approach to improve functional performance of prostheses – a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Background: Individuals with amputations experience functional limitations in their daily activities, depending on the level of their injuries. They often encounter problems with socket-based prostheses. Osseointegration is a new method in prosthetic rehabilitation that aims to enhance the performance of amputees and reduce the issues associated with current prostheses. The objective of this review was to assess the advantages and disadvantages of this novel approach in the rehabilitation of amputees. Method: A search was conducted in various databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Embase, and Scopus. The search terms used were “osseointegration,” “prosthesis,” and “amputation.” The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Down and Black tool. Results: The search using the aforementioned keywords yielded 18 papers. Out of these, 10 papers focused on the use of osseointegration for lower limb amputations, while 5 papers focused on upper limb amputations. Additionally, 3 papers examined the occurrence of stump infections associated with this method. The quality of the studies ranged from 15 to 20. Conclusion: Based on the available literature, osseointegration addresses some of the challenges associated with socket-based prostheses. Furthermore, it improves the performance of prostheses. However, there are several issues with this method, including high costs, stump infections, and the need for extensive expertise to insert the implant. Further large-scale studies are necessary to determine the various limitations and advantages of this approach for different levels of amputations.