Assessment of Pressures Within the Prosthetic Socket of a Person With Osteomyoplastic Amputation During Varied Walking Tasks

Abstract

ABSTRACT In this article, we report the pilot evaluation of the interfacial contact forces produced inside the prosthetic socket of a transtibial “Ertl amputee” while walking at varied speeds, directions, and elevations. In addition to the contact forces, the temporal-spatial parameters for the different gaits were also studied. Although the goal of osteomyoplastic transtibial amputation, i.e., “Ertl Procedure,” is to provide an “end-bearing” limb for prosthetic wear, such “end bearing” could not be verified or quantified in the past. In this study, a sensor kit and a data acquisition system were developed to monitor the internal loads between the residual limb and prosthetic socket in a transtibial amputee. The subject, an otherwise healthy individual, had undergone right osteomyoplastic amputation. The interfacial loads within the socket and the gait parameters were evaluated during different types of gaits under normal ambulation. The study shows that although the weight was transferred almost uniformly to the proximal regions of the prosthetic socket, significant end bearing was achieved during all the tests.