2023 Volume 39 Issue 1 Pages 60-67
The study was conducted on three unilateral transfemoral amputees, with two participants using NU-FlexSIV sockets (NU), while the third participant was instructed to continuously use an ischial-ramal containment socket (IRC) for six months. Before and after this period, the participants’ gait, balance, and socket comfort were evaluated; bone mineral density was measured; and the soft tissue surrounding the hip joint was analyzed using MRI. One of the participants who wore an NU socket stopped wearing it due to pain, choosing instead an IRC socket for the remainder of the study period. As a result, only socket comfort and bone mineral density could be measured at six months in addition to MRI analysis. Findings showed that gait and balance were comparable in individuals wearing NUs and those wearing IRCs, with a superior socket comfort in those wearing NUs. Moreover, the NU-wearing participant showed increased femoral neck bone mineral density on the side of the amputated limb, whereas the other two participants showed decreased bone mineral density. MRI findings further showed that the cross-sectional area of the muscle mass around the hip joint of the amputated limb had increased in the NU-wearing participant, but this was decreased in the other two. Therefore, these results may imply that NU sockets exerted mechanical stimuli on the femur and residual muscles of the stump, which were different from those exerted by conventional IRCs, thereby affecting the amputated side’s bone mineral density as well as soft tissue composition.
Bulletin of the Japanese Society of Prosthetic and Orthotic Education, Research and Development
