Comfort level discussion for prosthetic sockets with different fabricating processing conditions

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Prosthetics and Orthotics

Background:

• Traditional prosthetic socket fabrication is time-consuming and requires specialized assembly.
• Reverse engineering (RE) and rapid prototyping (RP) offer advanced alternatives for prosthetic socket fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of RE and RP in prosthetic socket fabrication.
• To analyze gait parameters, interface stress, and user satisfaction with RE and RP fabricated sockets.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 3D computer-aided design/computer-aided engineering (CAD/CAE) tools for stump data digitization and modification.
• Investigated gait parameters and stump-socket interface stress under various processing conditions.
• Employed questionnaires to assess user satisfaction and comfort levels.

Main Results:

• Identified high stress concentration at the tibia end pressure-relief area, irrespective of fabrication method.
• Observed significant discomfort in the tibia end area for participants using RE and RP fabricated sockets.
• Gait parameters, stress interface data, and satisfaction ratings provide valuable insights for future prosthetic socket development.

Conclusions:

• Prosthetic socket fabrication using RE and RP leads to concentrated stress at the tibia end, causing discomfort.
• The discomfort is most pronounced with sockets fabricated using RE and RP.
• Findings highlight areas for improvement in prosthetic socket design to enhance patient comfort and clinical application.