Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

MS in Physician Assistant Studies (PA)

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

First Advisor

Eric Barth

Abstract

The study seeks to investigate the newly developed technology of three-dimensional printing and the potential to utilize it for prosthetic development. The question is, do three-dimensional printed prosthetics in below elbow amputee patients offer an affordable and accessible option to a customized and individualized prosthetic experience? The study is designed around a literature review thus reflects on current knowledge including substantive findings, as well as theoretical and methodological contributions. Overall the collected works point to three-dimensional printing having significant potential in the development of more affordable prosthetics. In low resource communities and for low resource individual’s three-dimensional prosthetics offer opportunity to access otherwise inaccessible technology. The ability to customize and create one off solutions is a uniqueness and significant positive to three-dimensional printed prosthetics. The current available literature does not provide enough evidence to reliably prescribe three- dimensional printed prosthetics, however there are clinical trials in process that may change the direction of the conversation in the near future.

Identifier

SC11.PAS.2018.Meyers.M

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