Needs and their priority among prosthetic users

Upper limb amputation imposes severe limitations on daily activities and psychosocial well-being, significantly reducing the quality of life for affected individuals. Despite extensive scientific and engineering efforts in developing advanced robotic prostheses, high abandonment rates indicate a gap between user needs and device performance. To address this issue, we take an initial step in identifying and prioritizing the needs of people with limb loss. Using the PRISMA methodology, we analyzed 73 relevant studies. Employing a bottom-up approach, we categorized user needs into structured taxonomies derived from the literature. We then prioritized these needs by normalizing findings across key surveys. We believe this study provides both a high-level and detailed understanding of the needs of individuals with limb loss, offering valuable insights for designing more user-centered prostheses. In the future, integrating these findings with technical specifications will support the development of personalized prosthetic solutions, particularly by leveraging recent advancements in manufacturing technologies.