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Residual-limb skin temperature in transtibial sockets
Jeffrey T Peery1, William R Ledoux, Glenn K Klute
1Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Rehabilitation Research and Development Center of Excellence for Limb Loss Prevention and Prosthetic Engineering, VA Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA.
Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
|June 10, 2005
Summary
Elevated temperatures within lower-limb prostheses can cause skin issues. This study found residual-limb skin temperature varies with activity and location, offering insights for improved prosthetic socket design.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Kinesiology
Background:
- The prosthetic socket's insulated environment can elevate residual-limb skin temperature.
- High temperatures may lead to skin irritation, blistering, and reduced quality of life for amputees.
- Prosthetic socket design and materials can influence thermal load, which varies with activity and location.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the thermal environment at the skin-prosthesis interface in lower-limb amputees.
- To investigate the relationship between activity, location, and residual-limb skin temperature.
- To inform the design of prosthetic sockets for improved thermal comfort.
Main Methods:
- Temperature measurements were taken on five transtibial amputees at 14 locations on their residual limbs.
- Skin temperatures were recorded after a 15-minute seated rest period and a subsequent 10-minute walking period.
- Thermal contour maps were generated to visualize temperature distribution.
Main Results:
- Mean residual-limb skin temperature increased by 0.8°C after resting and 1.7°C after walking.
- Skin temperature was lowest at the anterior proximal location and highest posteriorly.
- Temperature variations correlated with areas of low and high local perfusion.
Conclusions:
- Residual-limb skin temperature is significantly influenced by physical activity and anatomical location within the prosthesis.
- Understanding these thermal patterns can help identify causes of skin problems.
- This data can guide the development of prosthetic sockets that mitigate temperature-related discomfort.