Department of Chemical, Biological, and Bio Engineering, North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, NC, USA.
Prosthet Orthot Int. 2022 Oct 1;46(5):432-436. doi: 10.1097/PXR.0000000000000126. Epub 2022 May 4.
Thermal discomfort because of elevated residual limb skin temperatures and/or perspiration within the prosthetic socket is frequently reported among people with amputation.
To evaluate the impact of the thermal conductivity characteristics of prosthetic liners on transtibial prosthesis heat dissipation, following postactivity rest.
Time-dependent heat transfer study in solids using finite element analysis.
A three-dimensional model of the transtibial residual limb was developed by simplifying the geometry to tapered, layered cylinders. Four prosthetic socket liners of varying thermal conductivities were then added to the exterior, and the final surface temperatures of the skin layer were analyzed.
Warmer temperatures were observed near regions with greater muscle volume; cooler temperatures were observed at the distal end of the simplified model. The final residual limb skin temperatures for each prosthetic liner were found to be significantly different from one another. Overall, the average final surface temperatures of the skin layer at the end of postactivity rest was 3.85°C ± 0.12°C greater than the initial surface temperatures of skin layer.
None of the prosthetic liners made a significant reduction in residual limb skin temperatures after activity. The results indicate that the focus should be on other material properties of the prosthetic liners or active cooling systems.
经常有截肢者报告称，由于残肢皮肤温度升高和/或义肢腔内出汗，会感到热不适。
评估义肢衬垫的导热特性对活动后休息时胫骨假体散热的影响。
使用有限元分析对固体的时变热传递进行研究。
通过简化几何形状为锥形、分层圆柱体，开发了胫骨残肢的三维模型。然后在外层添加了四种不同导热系数的义肢衬垫，并分析了皮肤层的最终表面温度。
在肌肉体积较大的区域观察到较暖的温度；在简化模型的远端观察到较冷的温度。发现每个义肢衬垫的最终残肢皮肤温度彼此之间有显著差异。总体而言，活动后休息结束时皮肤层的平均最终表面温度比皮肤层的初始表面温度高 3.85°C±0.12°C。
活动后，没有一种义肢衬垫能显著降低残肢皮肤温度。结果表明，应关注义肢衬垫或主动冷却系统的其他材料特性。
