Preliminary experiences with modified SACH feet manufactured and used in a tropical developing world setting

In a prospective study of polypropylene (PP) prostheses for trans-tibial amputees four different modified SACH feet were used. These are identified as: 1. BAVI from the national manufacturer of componentry in BaVi; 2. HCMC a design initiated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) together with the Army Factory in Ho Chi Minh City; 3. HI from Handicap International; 4. VI from Veterans International, Cambodia. Four (4) from 5 BAVI feet, 7 from 9 HCMC feet and 4 from 10 HI feet failed after about a year on average, whereas none of 10 VI feet had failed after 19 months. Dimensional differences in the ankle part and in the height of the foot in the different designs made interchangeability impossible.