Wearing an inappropriate prosthesis can cause pain, stress, skin irritation and ulceration, and even repeated amputations. As a result, the use of test sockets has accelerated in recent years to minimize such complications. The aim of a retrospective study at the Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, Dicle University Medical School, Diyarbakir, Turkey, and the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Sadi Konuk Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, was to investigate the frequency of admissions, reason for admissions, and test socket satisfaction in patients with transfemoral and transtibial amputations who received lower-limb prostheses with or without test sockets.
Although the use of a test socket can increase the cost of the prosthesis, researchers found that patients with transtibial and transfemoral amputations have fewer complaints related to prosthesis, experience increased functionality and satisfaction with the prosthesis, and have reduced pain from prosthetic use.
Eighty-eight patients (54 men, 34 women) were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: Group One, 44 patients who received test sockets and Group Two, 44 patients who did not have test socket. Variables related to the functional status, frequency of complaints, and test socket satisfaction were investigated in both groups. The Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales (TAPES) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess the level of patient satisfaction with their prosthesis. The VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) was used to assess pain at rest and during walking.
Researchers found that the TAPES values were more significant in Group One regardless of whether they had transtibial or transfemoral amputations. However, prosthesis delivery time was more significant in Group Two with both types of amputations whereas the frequency of admissions within three months was more significant in Group One for people with both transtibial and transfemoral amputations. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of other parameters, the study found.
