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From Rob Mannion

As a below-elbow amputee and a journalist who relies on the use of a prosthesis for everyday living, I was most interested in your article on “rebuilding” limbs (28 February, p 26).

However, from practical experience I think that the title might well have read: “We can rebuild them…at a price”. Very few prosthetics users have access to the large sums required to purchase existing state-of-the-art artificial limbs.

Another big problem would be the interfacing of the body to the prosthesis. Osseo-integration (living bone to prosthetic coupling) is in its infancy and is not suitable for everyone. The problems for the upper extremity amputee are complex.

Unfortunately, as usual when I read articles and reports on the same subject, I think it’s a continuing case of “bionics tomorrow” for the majority of artificial limb users.

Bournemouth, Dorset, UK