Article

This reliability study was a cross-sectional design carried out to determine the efficacy of digital fluoroscopic video (DFV) for measurement of femoral position within the socket. Individuals with amputations experience movement of the residual limb within the prosthetic socket during gait. Digital fluoroscopic video has been used as a noninvasive tool to dynamically measure skeletal motion. Accurately defining femoral movement during weight bearing could be used to improve stabilization of the residual limb. Increased stabilization can improve gait kinematics and decrease risk of skin damage to the residual limb. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of using DFV to measure femoral position in individuals with transfemoral amputations (TFAs) while loading their prosthetic side with various loads. Measures of interrater and intrarater reliability were calculated to assess the accuracy of multiple raters' measurements of femoral position. Test-retest reliability was calculated to test subjects' ability to consistently perform this task. Twenty-four service members with TFA were recruited to participate in this study. Digital fluoroscopic video of subjects' sockets were taken while they loaded their prostheses with 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% of their body weight. Raters measured images at each of the desired loads from the distal portion of the femur to the superior portion of the distal socket wall, and the positions of the femur in the mediolateral and axial directions were compared for reliability. High reliability (Cronbach ? > 0.90) was seen for interrater and intrarater reliability as well as test-retest reliability. Digital fluoroscopic video can be used as a safe and accurate method to measure the position of the femur within a TFA's socket. Digital fluoroscopic video can be used for direct dynamic visual assessment of the femur during simulated gait. Understanding the loading response of the residual femur could lead to improved assessment of muscle reattachment procedures and improved socket suspension for individuals with TFA.

Langue : ANGLAIS