Evaluation of Alignment Methods for Transtibial Prostheses
Abstract
There are an estimated 3-4 million amputees in need of a prosthesis in
developing countries. These people are unlikely to receive prosthetic limbs due to
remote living conditions, finances, and few providers of care. The monolimb is
considered appropriate prosthetic technology for developing countries. The
monolimb is made of fewer components, more affordable, durable, and appropriate
for prosthetic outreach missions because it can be delivered on an initial fit.
Appropriate alignment of the monolimb must be captured prior to fabrication because
the prosthesis is not modular. Objective- To determine if an alignment method based
on patient measurements produces a more appropriately aligned prosthesis than
traditional bench alignment (TRAD). The alternative alignment methods included the
vertical alignment axis (VAA) and anatomical based alignment (ABA). Methods- 8
transtibial amputees, 8 students of prosthetics, and 2 prosthetists per amputee-student
pair participated in the study. The student bench aligned 3 sets of endo components
for the amputee according to each alignment method. The prosthetists dynamically
aligned the 3 prostheses for each amputee. The magnitude of change from bench to
dynamic alignment was determined by quantifying 6 alignment parameters. Results-
No significant differences were found between the 3 different alignment methods.
Future Directions- Control the student variable to test the accuracy of the alignment
methods. Control the amputee variable to test how little training is necessary to
appropriately align a prosthesis with the 3 alignment methods.
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