Researchers in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pennsylvania gait and biomechanics lab tested the feasibility, comfort, user satisfaction, and functional performance of an adjustable, immediate-fit prosthetic socket in children and adolescents with lower-limb loss. The study concluded that the system was feasible and well accepted, and may offer a practical, affordable alternative for children and families seeking a device that can accommodate growth.
Fourteen boys and 14 girls with an average age of 11.5 ± four years were enrolled. Each participant was fit with an adjustable, immediate-fit prosthesis, which was compared with their conventional devices. Fifteen participants completed follow-up.
Scores on the Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire Overall Prosthetic Evaluation Questionnaire favored the adjustable device, although not significantly, according to the study. Ease of socket adjustment demonstrated a significant advantage for the adjustable prosthesis, and participants reported improved temperature and perspiration control. Walking speed did not differ between devices, and intrasocket pressures were comparable. There were no skin irritation, skin breakdown, or mechanical failures.
The open-access study, “Adjustable pediatric prosthetic sockets to accommodate growth in children and adolescents with limb loss,” was published in the Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation.
