Subjective Evaluations and Objective Measurements of the Ischial-Ramal Containment Prosthesis

Abstract

We examined 12 transfemoral amputees, 6 using the IRC socket and 6 the QL socket, to confirm whether the ischial-ramal containment (IRC) socket is truly superior to the quadrilateral (QL) socket. In subjective evaluation, the IRC group was significantly better in the total score and in items of comfort, that is, to sit on a chair and lumbar lordosis at heel off (Mann-Whitney test, PP0.05). By X-ray, the stump of the IRC group was maintained significantly more adducted during one foot standing on the prosthesis (Mann-Whitney test, P0.05), and a multiple regression analysis revealed that the stump length ratio and lateral force ratio during mid-stance were significant explanatory variables for predicting PCI (adjusted R square: 0.87, F-value: 11.85. P<0.05). The results of this study have revealed that the advantage of the IRC socket is a tender feeling of the stump, but that the metabolic efficiency is not superior to the QL socket at the most comfortable speed.