Data-Driven Prosthetics Slash NHS Waiting Times, Boost Comfort

A groundbreaking study has revealed that new software which personalizes prosthetic leg fittings using data from previous patients could significantly reduce NHS waiting lists. The data-driven approach, developed by Radii Devices and the University of Southampton, has been found to produce prosthetic designs that are just as comfortable for patients as those created by highly skilled prosthetists.

The technology aims to halve the number of clinical visits required for a prosthetic fitting, from an average of 4 down to just 2. By analyzing hundreds of previous socket designs, the software can identify trends and generate a personalized recommendation based on a 3D scan of the patient's residual limb. This provides a solid starting point for prosthetists to refine the design and make precise adaptations.

In an NHS trial, 19 sockets were created for 17 participants, with all but one exceeding the NHS comfort score target. Notably, 6 of the data-driven designs were even more comfortable than traditional prosthetics. Professor Maggie Donovan-Hall, a co-author of the study, expressed surprise and encouragement at the strong performance of the new method, which was tested as a "worst-case scenario" without additional input from prosthetists.

With nearly 100 people now having received prosthetics designed this way across the UK and USA, the technology is poised to transform the prosthetics industry. As the study moves into its final stage, clinicians will work alongside the developers to seamlessly integrate the software into their practices, ultimately improving the lives of amputees through more efficient and comfortable care.