Local man to become first in Europe to receive robotic arm prosthetic

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Moate native David Digan is set to become the first person in Europe to undergo a procedure for a robotic arm prosthetic, after a devastating motorbike accident in 2018 left him suffering with paralysis of his left arm.

David currently has no active nerves, and absolutely no sensation in his arm, and suffers from chronic pain on a daily basis. He has has a number of previous surgeries over the past six years with the hope of regaining the use of his arm, but unfortunately, success has been limited.

"I first went to Vienna two years ago for nerve transfer surgery which couldn't be done here. We had to wait two years to see if that worked or not, and unfortunately it didn't," David said. "I was a bit disheartened after the muscle transfer didn't work."

The 40-year-old is now taking part in a trial which will see him make several trips to Vienna, Austria with the hope of regaining mobility in his arm. The hope is that the procedure will enable David to rotate his wrist, as well as being able to open and close his fist.

"My surgeon was telling me there was this new technology - a type of wire that was being made in Michigan and it was going to be brought to Europe. He put my name down for the procedure.

"The goal of the muscle transfer was to drive the prosthetic, and all the sensors in the prosthetic to pick up my muscle movements. With this brand new technology - even though there’s no nerves in my arm - they can now use wire to substitute the nerves."

The procedure involves a brand new technology which will see surgeons implanting sensors and wires into David's arm. These sensors and wires will be connected to the remaining muscles in his left shoulder. The wiring will come out of the skin, connecting to a control unit which will then control the robotic prosthetic.

"As time goes on, as long as there's no infection and the wires work, they will then install the control unit and the prosthetic into my arm," David said.

Dealing with the paralysis of his left arm has presented David with a number of challenges over the years. The 40-year-old worked as a commercial diver for 12 years leading up to his accident, however now, that is all gone.

"Unfortunately the diving is over. I still do a bit of swimming, and I have done scuba diving - but the diving as a career is gone for me. I deal with chronic pain on a daily basis - I have phantom pain because my brain still thinks the arm is there.

"It takes me two hours every night to fall asleep once I go to bed, because the pain is so severe."

Talking about his motivators, and what has kept him going through his more challenging days, David credits his daughter Aibhlinn and his partner Avril O'Connell, who is a healthcare assistant in Tullamore hospital.

David has also has some inspiring moments since his accident - with once such event being his involvement in the Athlone Sub Aqua Club swim from Hodson Bay to the town bridge in Athlone back in 2021.

"A proud moment for me was in 2021, I did complete a 2km swim with Athlone Sub Aqua Club with my arm amputated. I was always involved with the Sub Aqua, so it was a special moment."

As of January 2, David's GoFundMe for his life-changing trip to Vienna has raised €6,013 of his €9,000 goal from some 131 donations - meaning that he is over two thirds of the way to achieving his goal.

"It's not the case that it will be one and done - I will have to travel back and forth to Vienna six or seven times for this trial," David said. "I wouldn't be able to do what I'm going to do without everybody who has donated and shared the fundraiser. I want to thank everybody for all their support."

To donate, go to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-rebuild-my-life-after-a-life-altering-accident