HTA Details
Osseointegrated Prosthetic Implants for People With Lower-Limb Amputation
- Publication date
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2019-December-12
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Injuries, Accidents and Wounds
- Recommendation
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Final Recommendation
- Ontario Health, based on the guidance of the Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee, recommends publicly funding osseointegrated prosthetic implants for carefully selected individuals with a lower-limb amputation resulting from a nonvascular cause, conditional on Health Canada approval
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry of Health has accepted this recommendation.
-
After someone has lost a leg through amputation, they have options for the kind of artificial limb, or prosthesis, they can use to help them walk again. One is a socket prosthesis, which attaches the artificial limb to the remaining part of the leg. But a socket prosthesis can cause friction, leading to discomfort and skin problems that can make movement and walking difficult.
A newer option is called an osseointegrated prosthetic implant, which involves surgically implanting a metal rod into the person’s leg bone. The artificial leg is then connected to the rod. However, these implants can cause serious complications, including leg, soft tissue, and bone infections.
Ontario Health looked at the effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of osseointegrated prosthetic implants for lower-limb amputees. We also looked at the budget impact of publicly funding them and the experiences, preferences, and values of people who have had a leg amputation.
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
