Fluid Volume Management in Prosthesis Users: Augmenting Panel Release with Pin Release.

BACKGROUND

Management of fluid in the limbs is a challenge faced by people with disabilities. In prosthetics, a means for transtibial prosthesis users to stabilize their residual limb fluid volume during the day may improve socket fit.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if releasing the panels and locking pin of a cabled-panel adjustable socket during socket release significantly improved limb fluid volume recovery and retention over releasing the panels alone.

DESIGN

Repeated-measures experiment to assess the effects on limb fluid volume retention.

SETTING

Participants were tested in a laboratory setting while walking on a treadmill.

INTERVENTION

Release of a locking pin tether during sitting as a limb volume accommodation strategy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Percent limb fluid volume retention for panel and pin release compared with panel release alone at 2 minutes (short term) and 50 minutes (long term) after subsequent activity. Limb fluid volume was monitored using bioimpedance analysis.

RESULTS

Median percent limb fluid volume retention for the panel and pin release was significantly greater than panel release alone for both anterior and posterior regions for the long term (P = .0499 and .0096, respectively) but not the short term (P = .0712 and .1580, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Augmenting panel release with pin release may be an effective accommodation strategy for prosthesis users with transtibial amputation to better retain limb fluid volume.