H.N. Shasmin, N.A. Abu Osmanand L. Abdul Latif. There are thousand lower limb amputations performed annually in this country, approximately 56 percent of ...
Comparison between Biomechanical Characteristics of Stainless Steel and Bamboo Pylons: A Preliminary Study H.N. Shasmin, N.A. Abu Osman and L. Abdul Latif There are thousand lower limb amputations performed annually in this country, approximately 56 percent of these being transtibial amputees. The common causes of amputation are vascular disease, diabetes and accidents. The components of prosthetic legs in the market usually are imported directly from other countries, which reasonably makes the price too expensive for average persons. In an effort to produce economical prosthetic leg, the previous study [1] had developed the prosthetic shank from low cost material, bamboo. Prosthetic shank is the portion connecting the footankle assembly to the upper prosthesis, usually to the socket or the knee unit in transfemoral prosthetic legs. In endoskeletal prostheses, the shank is tubular, usually aluminum, stainless steel or titanium connectors at the foot and socket or knee Fig. 1.
Fig. 1 Endoskeletal prosthetic leg The purpose of this study is to determine whether a change in prosthetic shank weight as a result of using bamboo components versus steel components would affect the kinetics and kinematics of gait as well as the energy expenditure of transtibial amputees. Energy expenditure of ambulation
in persons with lower limb amputation has been a concern for patients and health care professionals. Measuring energy cost of walking in the amputated subject is an established evaluation method for quantifying the actual effort exerted [2] and for comparing the effectiveness of different prosthetic devices [3-5]. Studies have shown that the energy cost for persons with transtibial amputation is 15% to 55% higher than that for non-amputee subjects at comparable walking velocities, whereas the self-selected walking velocity is 10% to 40% slower [6-7]. A recent review on prosthetic mass in persons with transtibial amputation, suggested that there is no need to further decrease prosthetic mass [8] because adding mass to lightweight prostheses did not increase the energy cost of walking. However, literature of which prosthetic mass can be increased without causing negative effects for persons with transtibial amputation has not yet been determined.
