Report on the evaluation of the VA/Seattle below-knee prosthesis

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Rehabilitation Research and Development (Rehab R&D) Service, Technology Transfer Section (TTS) with collaboration from the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service (PSAS) managed clinical trials to evaluate the VA/Seattle Below-Knee (BK) Prosthetic System. The clinical trials were held at the Prosthetic Treatment Center (PTC), VA Medical Center, Hines, Illinois. Five other VA medical centers participated in the outreach program of the trials as satellite stations, with PTC Hines as the central fabrication facility. The VA/Seattle BK system is the first complete prosthetic system designed and developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It consists of a socket designed and fabricated using computer-aided, automated technology, and off-the-shelf modular components: a lightweight pylon and an ankle unit, and a lightweight, energy-storing foot. The computer-based socket design software, the modular components, and the prosthetic foot were developed with funds from the VA Rehab R&D Service. The evaluation trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of the VA/Seattle prosthesis, its reliability, and acceptance by veterans. The clinical trials began in April 1991 and were completed in August 1992. Forty-six BK amputee veterans were fitted with the VA/Seattle prosthesis. Their progress with the prosthesis was followed for a period of 6 months and data were gathered at intervals of 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Forty sets of subject data instruments were collected. In order to maintain the accuracy of the results, TTS used the 22 sets that were complete for data analysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)