Clinical field testing of vulcanized rubber feet for trans-tibial amputees in tropical low-income countries.
In a prospective, controlled study, 186 prosthetic rubber feet of different designs were fitted to amputees with trans-tibial prostheses. There were 158 amputees available for follow-up. The amputee compliance was good and 89% were satisfied with their device. After 18 months of use one VI-Solid rubber foot from VVAF in Cambodia had failed, as compared to 11% failures with the same foot with a heel cavity, 3% with the EB-1 sandwich construction from POF in Vietnam, all performing significantly better than the 62% encountered with the vulcanized rubber foot from ICRC in Cambodia; the latter representing half of the feet failing in amputees walking bare-footed. Nearly all failures were located at the foot-sole or the keel. The failure rate was 20% for the HI-Cambodia foot after 12 months. After 24 months of use, still only one VI-Solid rubber foot had failed and this foot design was found superior to the others in regard of durability.
Steen Jensen
J
J
ISPO, Copenhagen, Denmark. steen@ispo.ws
Nilsen
R
R
Zeffer
J
J
Fisk
J
J
Hartz
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic; D001186:Artificial Limbs; D003906:Developing Countries; D005528:Foot; D018409:Foot Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D013977:Tibia / Q000601:surgery; D014329:Tropical Climate
D011140:Polyurethanes