New surgery could give amputees 'Bionic' control over prosthetic legs

NCT ID NCT03374319

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested a new way to perform leg amputations that connects muscles in the residual limb to act as biological motors. The goal is to allow people to control advanced prosthetic legs more naturally and with better feeling. Fifty adults needing a leg amputation due to injury, birth defects, or arthritis took part. The approach aims to improve how well the remaining muscles can be activated and sensed.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Modified amputation procedure (agonist-antagonist myoneural interface)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could lead to a standard surgical technique that gives people with leg amputations better control and feeling in their prosthetic limbs.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-stage study with only 50 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. There are also risks like infection, poor wound healing, or the need for additional surgeries.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brigham & Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab

    Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, United States