Researchers set out to characterize the gait biomechanics of people with unilateral through-knee amputations (TKA), transfemoral amputations, and able-bodied controls. The findings suggested that TKAs, although less commonly performed than transfemoral amputations, may offer biomechanical advantages, particularly in preserving gait biomechanics closer to able-bodied controls, the authors concluded.
For the study, gait biomechanics of seven individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputations, four with unilateral TKAs, and nine able-bodied controls were evaluated with a 3D motion tracking system and force plates. Joint angles and moments at the ankle, knee, hip, and pelvis were computed and compared between groups.
The researchers found that the walking mechanics of those with TKAs displayed fewer differences from the able-bodied controls compared to the participants with transfemoral amputations. Individuals with a TKA had greater hip range of motion (ROM) on the amputated side than the transfemoral amputation group.
The participants with transfemoral amputations had higher pelvic antero/posterior tilt ROM compared to controls, but TKA and controls were not statistically different from each other. TKA individuals and able-bodied controls both had lower peak hip extension moments on the intact side than individuals with transfemoral amputations.
The open-access study, “Lower limb kinematics and kinetics of people with through-knee amputation compared to individuals with transfemoral amputation and able-bodied controls during walking,” was published in the Journal of Biomechanics.
