A cost-effective, adjustable, femoral socket, temporary prosthesis for immediate rehabilitation of above-knee...

Early ambulation after lower extremity amputation has profound benefits on the functional, psychological outcomes and enhanced prosthetic compliance among this clientele. The various potential risks of immobility--pain, oedema, muscle atrophy, phantom sensations, contractures, aerobic de-conditioning, and the like, are reduced due to early ambulation. Moreover, it assists in accelerated wound healing, preservation of postural reflexes and, above all, achievement of better psychological well-being. Though such benefits have been observed in the history of prosthetic rehabilitation, a cost-effective prosthesis for such an early management among Third World nations is still unavailable. Therefore, this article is an attempt to present an indigenously developed temporary prosthesis designed to make the above benefits possible at a lower cost. This prosthesis helps in myriad ways--immediate prosthetic fitting, early weight bearing, early ambulation--and also has the added advantage of being adjustable to anthropological variations. The ischial weight bearing, lateral opening socket reduces the pressure and shear over the stump, thus avoiding stump complications. This increases the prosthetic acceptance by the client due to early involvement in the rehabilitation. Above all, it is cost effective and comfortable, thus enhancing compliance and superior outcome in prosthetic rehabilitation, especially among the clients in Third World nations.