Pressure Distribution in Transtibial Prostheses Socket and the Stump Interface

The paper deals with the problem of a biomechanical solution for human locomotion after amputation of a lower limb. With an inappropriately designed transtibial prostheses socket, the interaction between the socket and the stump occurs, leading to increased friction and subsequent surface damage to the soft tissue. In individual types of transtibial prostheses, locations are defined which can be loaded and which cannot be loaded. On the basis of the study of the anterior side of the stump, three loadable and two non-loadable areas were monitored using the TACTILUS tactile pressure sensor (Sensor Products Inc., Madison, New Jersey, USA). Methods of measuring individual values were proposed for the purpose of sensing the pressure in the socket and the liner interface, the stump and the liner interface. Each method includes the methodological preparation of the patient, the preparation of the room, the preparation of the measuring system, and the subsequent method of data processing. In the submitted paper, 11 stumps were non-invasively monitored. The method of assessing the pressure exerted on the stumps was focused on the monitoring of the pressure distribution in the selected areas. The results obtained by the pressure measurements were statistically processed. In both cases of the pressure system placement, the p-value was higher than 0.05; therefore, we can state that the sets are equal.