A case of a child with congenital upper limb deficiency in which school refusal was improved by wearing a myoelectric prosthetic hand

Abstract

We prescribed a myoelectric prosthetic hand for an adolescent boy with congenital upper extremity deficiency who was a school refuser and trained him in its use. As a result, the boy’s school refusal was improved. When the boy trained and started using the myoelectric prosthetic hand, he began going to school. After lending myoelectric prosthetic hand to the boy, he began to use it at school. We exchanged opinions with school teachers about the use of the myoelectric prosthetic hand. After that, the boy gradually increased the frequency of myoelectric prosthetic hand use at school. The boy also began to use the myoelectric prosthetic hand at home. Therefore, the boy was allowed to purchase myoelectric prosthetic hand at public expense. Children with congenital upper extremity deficiencies may experience disabilities and frustration as they grow up due to deficiencies. The myoelectric prosthetic hand was effective not only in the physical side such as two-handed movement but also in the mental side. Therefore, in order to use a myoelectric prosthetic hand effectively at school, it is useful to exchange opinions between medical staff and school teachers. In the future, it is necessary to explain to many school educators about the effect of myoelectric prosthetic hands.