Researchers conducted a narrative review to explore the reported differences between the sexes and genders in upper-limb prosthesis rejection. The review considered peer-reviewed, published research studies in which the study population were adults who had unilateral or bilateral limb difference (any level) of any etiology with current, past, or no history of prosthetic device usage.
Using identified keywords, index terms, and a peer-reviewed search filter, researchers reviewed literature in MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycInfo. The reasons for rejection, disuse, or abandonment of prosthetic devices were extracted, with the focus on reported differences between sex and genders.
The researchers selected 29 articles for full-text review and 15 were included. Only five of the15 articles examined differences between the sexes. Based on their findings, the reviewers concluded that women tend to reject upper-limb prostheses more than men both before and after being fit with a device; device characteristics, such as weight and cosmesis, do not appear to be appropriately designed for women; and there may not be adequate consideration of the goals for women with limb differences. They also concluded that there is inadequate reporting of sex and gender in the literature on prosthesis rejection, and future studies should report and explore these factors to determine whether the needs of the full population with limb loss are being met.
