Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42144492›Full record

ArticleAnnals of biomedical engineering2026

Additive Manufacturing in Upper-Limb Prosthetics: A Survey of Stakeholders' Profiles and Expertise.

Kevin Wendo, Jade Ward, Chris Baschuk, Kiswendsida Sawadogo, Séverine Guisset, Raphael Olszewski

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Article in Annals of biomedical engineering, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kevin WendoNeuro Musculo Skeletal Lab (NMSK), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium. kevin.wendo@uclouvain.be.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4382-8831
Jade WardAMPrint Center, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, United States of America.
Chris BaschukPoint Designs, Broomfield, Colorado, United States of America.
Kiswendsida SawadogoStatistical Support Unit, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Séverine GuissetStatistical Methodology and Computing Support (SMCS), Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and Modeling in economics and statistics (LIDAM), UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Raphael OlszewskiNeuro Musculo Skeletal Lab (NMSK), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), Brussels, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeProsthetic clinics and philanthropic organizations are increasingly using additive manufacturing (AM) to manufacture upper-limb prostheses (ULP). However, a lack of documented use cases and guidelines hinders its broader implementation. Additional data are required to establish recommendations. This exploratory study aims to investigate the sociodemographics and expertise of individuals using AM to manufacture ULP.

methodsAn international cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted from October 1st, 2023, to June 30th, 2024. Participants were recruited using non-probability sampling through specialized online channels. We collected sociodemographic data and explored AM ULP manufacturing workflows and outcomes. The survey was available in French, English, and Spanish. Survey data underwent descriptive analyses.

resultsOf 111 participants who started the survey, 61 (55%) completed it. Participants included aid organizations members (40%), prosthetists (37%), and other related professions (23%), with up to 5 years (60%) of AM experience. Active (56%) ULP were predominantly manufactured using Fused Filament Fabrication (84%) with polylactic acid (77%) material. Poor digital customization skills represented the main barrier to 3D production. Functionality and reliability of AM ULP parts represent major limitations in 3D devices studied.

conclusionAlthough additive manufacturing offers significant technological advantages for the production of upper-limb prostheses, human (e.g., digital skills, training) and technical (e.g., mechanical performance of materials) barriers can hinder its implementation and clinical relevance. Further studies, endorsed by official institutions, are warranted to establish guidelines for each subgroup of stakeholders to manufacture optimal ULP using AM.

Indexed as

3D-printed prosthesis3D printingAdditive manufacturingBiomedical deviceProstheticsUpper limb prosthesis

Identifiers

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.