Successful prosthetic fitting of elderly trans-femoral amputees with Intelligent Prosthesis (IP): a clinical pilot study.

The objective of the study was to compare the Physiological Cost Index (PCI) and walking speeds during walking in two elderly trans-femoral amputees when using knee joints which emphasized stance-phase control and Intelligent Prosthesis, and to provide some bibliographic observations on factors behind their success in improving walking ability despite their age. It was a within-subject comparison. The subjects comprised two patients, aged 75 and 81 years, with trans-femoral amputations. On admission subjects were subjected to one-leg cycling test driven by their non-amputated leg in order to evaluate their physical fitness. The PCI and speed during free level walking was measured using their original knee joints. The knee joint was then changed to IP and the subjects received prosthetic walking training programs using it. The PCI and speed measurements were taken during free level walking on completion of the training program. Both subjects showed a decreased PCI and an increased free walking speed when using the IP compared with the original knee joints. It was concluded that elderly trans-femoral amputees who are judged to be in good physical condition appear to merit the application of knee joints with superior swing phase control functions such as IP, regardless of their age.