A preliminary evaluation of a Hydro-cast trans-femoral prosthetic socket design, a proof of concept

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Buis, Adrianus and McGarry, Anthony and Murray, Kevin and Hillman, Susan and Kamyab, Mojtaba (2013) A preliminary evaluation of a Hydro-cast trans-femoral prosthetic socket design, a proof of concept. In: ISPO 2013 World Congress, 2013-02-04 - 2013-02-07, HICC.

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Abstract

This study reports on a research project that has utilised, for the first time, a hydro-casting technique to create a trans-femoral prosthetic socket. Outcome measurements of the Hydro-Cast (HC) socket were compared with a prosthesis produced by conventional ischial containment (IC) technique. A trans-femoral amputee was provided with two interventions, one copy of the existing prosthesis and one with a Hydro-Cast socket. Outcome measures included: •Dynamic stump/socket interface pressure distribution. (Tekscan™) •Femur movement relative to the socket. (Ultrasound technology) •Full body motion capture and analysis. (Vicon™) Results indicate that sockets produced by both techniques, generated similar dynamic interface pressures. The average pressure of the HC system is more uniform during toe-off/ double support compared with that of the IC system. No marked differences were observed between the two conditions for any upper or lower body gait parameters or in the temporal and distance parameters. The range of movement of the femur within the HC prosthetic system was considerably less as compared with the IC system. Adherents of the most widely used design philosophies for trans-femoral sockets have described how their approaches influence or control the motion of the femur relative to the stump tissues and the socket. [1, 2] Although a proof of concept study, results indicate the possibility that the HC socket may offer improved medio-lateral stability compared to the IC socket as used by the test subject. This is also highlighted by Kahle [3] who removed different socket elements systematically in a case study examining trans-femoral socket design. The conclusions of this study were significant because it is feasible to produce an acceptable prosthesis with the HC technique. Additionally, it seems that the fit of this prosthesis is more comfortable than compared with the old style prosthesis. However, more users should be investigated.

ORCID iDs

Buis, Adrianus ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-293X, McGarry, Anthony ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0738-5906, Murray, Kevin ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4684-2081, Hillman, Susan and Kamyab, Mojtaba;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)