Alignment of lower-limb prostheses

Alignment of a prosthesis is defined as the position of the socket relative to the other prosthetic components of the limb. During dynamic alignment the prosthetist, using subjective judgment and feedback from the patient, aims to achieve the most suitable limb geometry for best function and comfort. Until recently it was generally believed that a patient could only be satisfied with a unique "optimum alignment." The purpose of this systematic study of lower-limb alignment parameters was to gain an understanding of the factors that make a limb configuration or optimum alignment, acceptable to the patient, and to obtain a measure of the variation of this alignment that would be acceptable to the amputee. In this paper, the acceptable range of alignments for 10 below- and 10 above-knee amputees are established. Three prosthetists were involved in the majority of the 183 below-knee and 100 above-knee fittings, although several other prosthetists were also involved. The effects of each different prosthetist on the established range of alignment for each patient are reported to be significant. It is now established that an amputee can tolerate several alignments ranging in some parameters by as much as 148 mm in shifts and 17 degrees in tilts. This paper describes the method of defining and measuring the alignment of lower-limb prostheses. It presents quantitatively established values for bench alignment position and the range of adjustment required for incorporation into the design of new alignment units.