Retrospective review of 26 upper extremity amputees (shoulder disarticulation and transhumeral) who underwent TMR between 2002–2012, evaluating whether this nerve-transfer technique — designed for myoelectric prosthetic control — also resolves or prevents postamputation neuroma pain.
When evaluating an upper extremity amputee with neuroma pain preventing prosthetic use, consider TMR as a dual-purpose intervention — it transfers the symptomatic nerve to a motor target (treating the existing neuroma) while simultaneously setting up myoelectric prosthetic control.
The finding that untreated nerves (e.g., lateral antebrachial cutaneous in transhumeral cases) still form symptomatic neuromas reinforces the principle: transfer every major transected nerve to a motor target, not just those needed for prosthetic channels.
Retrospective review of 26 upper extremity amputees (shoulder disarticulation and transhumeral) who underwent TMR between 2002–2012, evaluating whether this nerve-transfer technique — designed for myoelectric prosthetic control — also resolves or prevents postamputation neuroma pain.
When evaluating an upper extremity amputee with neuroma pain preventing prosthetic use, consider TMR as a dual-purpose intervention — it transfers the symptomatic nerve to a motor target (treating the existing neuroma) while simultaneously setting up myoelectric prosthetic control.
The finding that untreated nerves (e.g., lateral antebrachial cutaneous in transhumeral cases) still form symptomatic neuromas reinforces the principle: transfer every major transected nerve to a motor target, not just those needed for prosthetic channels.