Comparison of interface pressures with pin and suction suspension systems

A common mode of limb suspension for transtibial amputees is the pin liner/shuttle lock system. Despite its popularity, some clinicians question its use because of observed daily and chronic changes to the residual limb. For this study, we measured limb interface pressures during ambulation with pin...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of rehabilitation research and development 2004-11, Vol.41 (6A), p.821-828
Main Authors: Beil, Tracy L, Street, Glenn M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Amputation - rehabilitation
Arms
Artificial Limbs
Biomechanical Phenomena
Comparative studies
Humans
Interfaces
Medical research
Middle Aged
Pressure
Prostheses
Prosthesis Design
Suction
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A common mode of limb suspension for transtibial amputees is the pin liner/shuttle lock system. Despite its popularity, some clinicians question its use because of observed daily and chronic changes to the residual limb. For this study, we measured limb interface pressures during ambulation with pin and suction suspension systems. No pressure differences were seen between the modes of suspension during stance phase. However, during swing phase, pin suspension maintained an average occlusive compressive pressure of 6.7 kPa on the proximal tissues, as compared to the subocclusive pressure of 1.1 kPa with suction suspension. Simultaneously, pin suspension elevated the peak magnitude of suction to -39.5 kPa at the distal residual limb, compared to -26.1 kPa with suction suspension. During swing phase, the pin liner squeezes proximally while creating a large suction distally on the residual limb and is the likely cause of daily and chronic skin changes observed in pin users.
ISSN:0748-7711
1938-1352
DOI:10.1682/JRRD.2003.09.0146