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3D printed transtibial prosthetic sockets: A systematic review
Sunjung Kim1, Sai Yalla1, Sagar Shetty2
1Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine's Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR), Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 10, 2022
Summary
3D printed prosthetic sockets show comparable strength to traditional ones, especially with composite materials and distal reinforcement. Further design improvements and printing technologies can enhance 3D printed socket viability.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Materials Science
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
Background:
- The prosthetic socket is crucial for load transfer between the residual limb and prosthesis.
- Traditional socket fabrication methods can be time-consuming and costly.
- 3D printing offers a promising alternative for socket fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the structural integrity of 3D printed prosthetic sockets.
- To identify factors influencing the strength of 3D printed sockets.
- To compare the strength of 3D printed sockets with traditional laminated sockets using ISO 10328 standards.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across five databases (PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
- Independent literature selection, quality assessment, and data extraction by two reviewers.
- Analysis of failure data for 3D printed sockets (3DS) and laminated composite sockets (LCS) based on ISO 10328 standards.
Main Results:
- Twelve studies met inclusion criteria, providing failure data for 15 3D printed and 26 laminated sockets.
- Composite materials (e.g., carbon fiber) and distal reinforcement techniques appear to enhance 3D printed socket strength.
- Failure predominantly occurred at the distal end or pyramid attachment for both 3DS and LCS.
- Evidence suggests comparable failure probability between 3DS and LCS up to the P8 load level, despite study heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- 3D printed sockets demonstrate potential for comparable structural integrity to traditional laminated sockets.
- Material enhancement and design modifications, particularly at the distal end, can improve 3D printed socket strength.
- Advancements in 3D printing technology and design optimization can increase the adoption of 3D printed sockets, especially in resource-limited settings.
