Smart Orthopedic Implants and the Self: Uncovering the Lived Realities of Technological Embodiment

Abstract

Advancements in medical technology have led to the widespread adoption of smart implants—devices integrated with sensors and data systems—to monitor and manage physiological functions within the human body. While clinical studies have primarily focused on technical performance, less is known about how patients subjectively experience living with these embedded technologies. Existing research lacks a comprehensive understanding of how smart implants affect patients’ sense of identity, agency, and embodiment, prompting the question: how do individuals make sense of their lived experiences with intelligent medical devices?

This study adopts an interpretative phenomenological approach to explore how patients experience, interpret, and adapt to the presence of smart implants in their daily lives. Data were collected over a period of four months using in-depth semi-structured interviews and reflective journals from eight participants. Data were analyzed through interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to identify key themes related to bodily perception, emotional dynamics, trust in technology, and evolving self-identity. The analysis revealed that patients often perceived the implant as an “other” within their body, negotiated feelings of dependence and autonomy, and experienced shifts in personal and social identity. These findings provide nuanced insights into how technology alters the embodied human experience and highlight the emotional and existential implications of living with internalized medical devices.

This study contributes to a more human-centered understanding of health technology, offering implications for design, clinical practice, and future research that prioritizes the lived realities of patients.