Volumetric determinations with CAD/CAM in prosthetics and orthotics: errors of measurement

During the next decade CAD/CAM technique will probably become routine in prosthetics and orthotics, not only as a complement to manual techniques, but also introducing new possibilities. However, even complex and sophisticated techniques have errors of measurement that must be considered. Such errors are of two principal kinds: systematic errors and random errors. In this study we have evaluated the Swedish CAPOD system with respect to volumetric determinations. We used two types of reference objects for volume determinations: cylinders and amputation residual limb models. Three different sizes were examined of each type of object. Volume measurements with CAPOD were compared with volumes obtained by water immersion or mathematical calculation (cylinders only). We found a constant, linear systematic error of +2.5%. Such an error can easily be corrected for. The random error, represented by the coefficient of variation, was 0.5%, which means that there is a theoretical possibility to detect volume changes exceeding 1%. We consider the precision sufficient for clinical practice in prosthetics and orthotics. Biological variations due to soft tissue deformation must be added on top of these errors. Such deformations were not evaluated in this study.