Early trans-tibial oedema control using polymer gel socks.

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Effective management of trans-tibial stump volume is crucial for successful prosthesis fitting.
• Early post-amputation edema control can influence stump maturation and prosthetic outcomes.
• Current standard care involves removable rigid dressings, with shrinkers applied later.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if polymer gel socks enhance trans-tibial stump volume reduction before shrinker application.
• To compare the rate of stump volume reduction between a control group and an experimental group using gel socks.
• To determine if early edema control with gel socks impacts final stump volume at prosthesis casting.

Main Methods:

• Sixteen adult participants with unilateral trans-tibial amputations were randomized into two groups.
• The experimental group used polymer gel socks with removable rigid dressings; the control group used only rigid dressings.
• Stump volumes were measured via water displacement from casts at baseline, pre-shrinker, and pre-prosthesis casting.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in stump volume reduction was observed between groups from baseline to shrinker fitting, favoring the gel sock group.
• The enhanced volume reduction achieved with gel socks was not sustained by the time of prosthesis casting.
• No significant difference in stump volume reduction was detected between groups from baseline to casting.

Conclusions:

• Early edema control using polymer gel socks can accelerate trans-tibial stump volume reduction prior to shrinker fitting.
• The benefits of early edema management with gel socks may not translate to long-term volume reduction by the time of prosthesis casting.
• Further research may explore optimal timing and duration of gel sock use for sustained stump volume management.