A comparative evaluation of the Adaptive knee and Catech knee joints: a preliminary study

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Science
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• The Adaptive knee joint is a microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee utilizing hybrid pneumatic and hydraulic control.
• The Catech knee joint is a conventional hydraulic prosthetic knee.
• Trans-femoral amputees often utilize prosthetic knee joints to restore mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the clinical performance of the Adaptive knee joint against the Catech knee joint in established trans-femoral amputees.
• To evaluate differences in gait, energy expenditure, and patient-reported outcomes between the two prosthetic knee types.

Main Methods:

• Gait analysis was performed on participants using both prosthetic knee types.
• Energy requirements were assessed using the Physiological Cost Index (PCI).
• Patient-reported outcomes were collected via questionnaires.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in gait parameters or energy expenditure were observed between the Adaptive and Catech knee joints.
• Patient-reported outcomes did not show a significant advantage for the Adaptive knee joint.
• The study was conducted on a small group of established trans-femoral amputees.

Conclusions:

• In this study, the Adaptive microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee did not demonstrate significant benefits over the conventional Catech hydraulic knee joint for trans-femoral amputees.
• Further research with larger sample sizes may be warranted to explore potential benefits in specific patient populations.