Article

Current transfemoral prosthetic sockets restrict function, lack
comfort, and cause residual limb problems. Lower proximal trim lines are an
appealing way to address this problem. Development of a more comfortable and
possibly functional subischial socket may contribute to improving quality of life
of persons with transfemoral amputation. OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this study
was to (1) describe the design and fabrication of a new subischial socket and (2)
describe efforts to teach this technique. STUDY DESIGN: Development project.
METHODS: Socket development involved defining the following: subject and liner
selection, residual limb evaluation, casting, positive mold rectification, check
socket fitting, definitive socket fabrication, and troubleshooting of socket fit.
Three hands-on workshops to teach the socket were piloted and attended by 30
certified prosthetists and their patient models. RESULTS: Patient models
responded positively to the comfort, range of motion, and stability of the new
socket while prosthetists described the technique as "straight forward,
reproducible." CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to create
a teachable subischial socket, and while it appears promising, more definitive
evaluation is needed. Clinical relevance We developed the Northwestern University
Flexible Subischial Vacuum (NU-FlexSIV) Socket as a more comfortable alternative
to current transfemoral sockets and demonstrated that it could be taught
successfully to prosthetists.

Langue : ANGLAIS