Cairns Nicola, Corney Jonathan, Murray Kevin, Moore-Millar Karena, Hatcher Gillian D, Zahedi Saeed, Bradbury Richard, McCarthy Joe
1 University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.
2 Chas. A. Blatchford & Sons Ltd, Basingstoke, UK.
Prosthet Orthot Int. 2018 Apr;42(2):223-227. doi: 10.1177/0309364617708650. Epub 2017 May 18.
A recent survey of people with lower limb absence revealed that patients' satisfaction with their foam cosmesis is lower than desired. The aim of this project was to improve the lifelike appearance, functionality and durability of the cosmesis through a user-centred design methodology.
Concept development and prototyping led to a new cosmesis design which features a cut-out located at the knee, inserted with an artificial patella made of a more rigid foam. It also features a full-length zip which provides easy access for maintenance. The new cosmesis was then mechanically tested for over 1 million cycles and clinically tested by six transfemoral prosthesis users over 18 patient months.
The new design is significantly more durable than the current standard model and has an enhanced lifelike appearance. It has potential to improve users' body image and reduce costs for healthcare providers. Clinical relevance This study contributes to practice by offering a new cosmesis design with enhanced appearance and durability, with the potential to improve patients' body image and reduce costs associated with cosmesis fitting and maintenance.
最近一项针对下肢缺失者的调查显示，患者对其泡沫义肢外观的满意度低于预期。本项目的目的是通过以用户为中心的设计方法，改善义肢的逼真外观、功能和耐用性。
概念开发和原型制作促成了一种新的义肢设计，其特点是在膝盖处有一个切口，插入由更坚硬泡沫制成的人工髌骨。它还设有全长拉链，便于进行维护。然后对新义肢进行了超过100万次循环的机械测试，并由6名经股截肢假肢使用者在18个患者月的时间里进行了临床测试。
新设计比当前的标准型号耐用得多，外观更逼真。它有可能改善用户的身体形象，并降低医疗服务提供者的成本。临床意义 本研究通过提供一种外观和耐用性增强的新义肢设计，为实践做出了贡献，有可能改善患者的身体形象，并降低与义肢安装和维护相关的成本。
