Honors College
118 Lifting the Burden: Integrating the technology of 3D Printing into Healthcare to Lower the Cost of Prosthetic Limbs
Allison Sveum and Eric Robertson
Faculty Mentor: Eric Robertson (Honors College, University of Utah)
As of right now, there are approximately 2.1 million people living in the United States who live with an amputated limb, whether congenital or surgical. Of these 2.1 million, an unknown number are children, who have much more complex needs when it comes to their prosthetics. In an article published by BioMed Central, the authors discuss how “[c]hildren’s prosthetic needs are complex due to their small size, constant growth, and psychosocial development” which exposes the intricacies and need for cheaper materials to lower the cost of prosthetics for families with a child amputee (Zuniga et. Al., 2015). According to Annie Murphy Paul, the author of the book The Extended Mind, “our thoughts…are powerfully shaped by the way we move our bodies” (Paul, 2021). Movement is so important in our process of thinking and using our brain, so when these kids lose the function of a limb, their brain starts shutting down, too. These prosthetics are integral to kids continuing to develop mentally. Even if the limb isn’t physically there, the thought of the movement that powers myoelectric prosthetics to work, has the same effect on the brain. The utilization of new materials and technologies, such as 3D printing, can help lower overall cost of prosthetics, make the creation process easier on the patient, and make the prosthetic more functional without adding unnecessary weight, especially for families with a child amputee.
Prosthetics are some of the most expensive medical devices in the world. Not only are the necessary for an amputee to return to a somewhat normal life, but they need to be durable enough for them to use in their everyday lives. The prospect of 3D printing in the medical field has the potential to lower overall costs in producing prosthetics, which would save families thousands of dollars in the long run. In 2015, an article published by BioMed Central explores how 3D printed prosthetics can help respond to the needs that amputee children face. These children grow at such a quick pace that they are outgrowing their prosthetics that unfortunately come with a huge price tag. This research states that “[t]he cost of a body-powered prosthetic hand ranges from $4,000 to $20,000” this price range puts extreme limits on the kind of prosthetic a family is able to purchase for their child (Zuniga et. Al., 2015). This quote benefits my research because it shows just how much of a burden prosthetics can be on a family’s financial situation. The choice for many families becomes one expensive myoelectric prosthetic or multiple prosthetics that don’t provide the same functionality. In “A Leg to Stand On,” an essay written by Vivian Sobchack, she shares her experience dealing with her amputation and the medical care that surroun