Surgical trick could let amputees 'Feel' their missing limb again
NCT ID NCT04063592
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jul 10, 2026 · Updated 4 times
Summary
This study tests a new surgical procedure for people who have had a leg amputated. The surgery builds special connections between muscles to help the brain better control the remaining limb and restore a sense of position and movement. Researchers will enroll 26 adults who already have a below- or above-knee amputation and are experiencing pain or skin problems. The goal is to improve how well they can use a prosthetic and reduce muscle shrinkage.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- residual limb revision surgery (agonist-antagonist myoneural interface construction)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this surgery could give amputees better control over their prosthetic limb, restore a sense of where the limb is in space, and reduce muscle wasting.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage study with only 26 people. Surgery carries risks like infection, poor wound healing, or need for additional operations. It may not work for everyone.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 26 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Feb 2020
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Between the ages of 18-65 * Has already undergone a standard AKA or BKA procedure * Suffers from symptoms such as: * Intractable pain * Deterioration of skin on or around stump * Suffering from other sources of discomfort arising from stump * Intact inherent wound healing * Adequate communication skills * High motivation Exclusion Criteria: * Inadequate health to undergo operative procedure using standard anesthesia (i.e. cardiopulmonary) * Individuals with impaired wound healing * Individuals suffering from extensive peripheral neuropathies * Active smokers * Individuals with a history of poor compliance * Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before surgical intervention
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
3 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital
RECRUITINGBoston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Massachusetts Institute of Technology
RECRUITINGCambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, United States
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Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGBethesda, Maryland, 20889, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a motorized knee help amputees walk more? trial puts it to the test
- Can we predict prosthetic success? a study seeks answers
- Can bionic limbs feel real? a trial tests touch feedback for amputees
- Can a common anesthetic dampen phantom limb pain?
- Can tiny electrodes give amputees a better grip on bionic limbs?
- FitBit coaching may help amputees walk more after surgery