a Department of Orthotics and Prosthetics, School of Rehabilitation Sciences , Hamadan University of Medical Sciences , Hamadan , Iran.
b Interdisciplinary Division of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering , Hong Kong Polytechnic University , Kowloon , Hong Kong.
Assist Technol. 2018;30(3):133-139. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2016.1272070. Epub 2017 Feb 17.
The snug fit of a prosthetic socket over the residual limb can disturb thermal balance and put skin integrity in jeopardy by providing an unpleasant and infectious environment. The prototype of a temperature measurement and control (TM&C) system was previously introduced to resolve thermal problems related to prostheses. This study evaluates its clinical application in a setting with reversal, single subject design. The TM&C system was installed on a fabricated prosthetic socket of a man with unilateral transtibial amputation. Skin temperature of the residual limb without prosthesis at baseline and with prosthesis during rest and walking was evaluated. The thermal sense and thermal comfort of the participant were also evaluated. The results showed different skin temperature around the residual limb with a temperature decrease tendency from proximal to distal. The TM&C system decreased skin temperature rise after prosthesis wearing. The same situation occurred during walking, but the thermal power of the TM&C system was insufficient to overcome heat build-up in some regions of the residual limb. The participant reported no significant change of thermal sense and thermal comfort. Further investigations are warranted to examine thermography pattern of the residual limb, thermal sense, and thermal comfort in people with amputation.
假肢接受腔与残肢的紧密配合会通过提供不舒适和易感染的环境来扰乱热平衡，并危及皮肤完整性。先前已经引入了一种温度测量和控制（TM&C）系统的原型来解决与假肢相关的热问题。本研究在反转、单主体设计的环境中评估了其临床应用。TM&C 系统安装在一名单侧胫骨截肢患者制作的假肢接受腔上。评估了基线时无假体和休息时以及行走时残肢皮肤温度。还评估了参与者的热感觉和热舒适度。结果显示残肢周围的皮肤温度不同，从近端到远端呈下降趋势。TM&C 系统降低了佩戴假体后的皮肤温度升高。行走时也出现了同样的情况，但 TM&C 系统的热功率不足以克服残肢某些区域的热量积聚。参与者报告热感觉和热舒适度没有明显变化。需要进一步研究以检查截肢者残肢的热成像模式、热感觉和热舒适度。
