Ortega Bedoya Yessika María, Rendón Vélez Elizabeth, Mejía Londoño Valentina, Valencia Legarda Fanny, Plata Contreras Jesús Alberto
Design Engineering Research Group, Area of Product and Experience Design, School of Applied Sciences and Engineering, Universidad EAFIT, Medellín, Colombia.
Fisioter Research Group, Department of Physiotherapy, María Cano University Foundation, Medellín, Colombia.
Prosthet Orthot Int. 2024 Dec 11;49(4):378-387. doi: 10.1097/PXR.0000000000000387.
A significant number of Colombian farmers who are transtibial amputees are civilian victims of landmines. Current prostheses are inadequately adapted for agricultural work, resulting in functional challenges in this context.
This study aims to analyze and categorize the functional problems of transtibial prostheses in the Colombian agricultural context, incorporating perspectives from prosthesis users, manufacturers, and designers.
Descriptive qualitative research involving 49 transtibial amputees using prostheses and 18 professionals engaged in prosthesis design, manufacture, or prescription.
Participants were interviewed. Each interview was transcribed, and a conventional content analysis was conducted to identify functional problems with transtibial prostheses in agricultural settings.
Interviewees reported that sockets become loose from residual limbs, and soft sockets and socks are prone to damage and maladjustment. The prosthetic foot undergoes stress due to stiffness, causing cracks and accelerated deterioration. Fastening screws loosen, break, and rust, while cosmetic foam retains moisture, perforates, and deteriorates in sunlight. Prosthesis deterioration is exacerbated by weather, moisture, mud, tall grass, and uneven or sloping terrain.
Prosthesis designs should facilitate sweat drainage or quick drying to address issues with soft sockets and socks. Sockets should be padded to minimize residual limb injuries. Durable, low-cost, and easily replaceable soft sockets are essential for farming environments. Additionally, farmers need a prosthetic foot that flexes when caught in brush or walking on uneven/inclined surfaces, allowing movement in two physiological planes without compromising strength and durability.
大量哥伦比亚农民因地雷成为小腿截肢的平民受害者。目前的假肢不太适合农业工作，在这种情况下会带来功能上的挑战。
本研究旨在分析并分类哥伦比亚农业环境中小腿假肢的功能问题，纳入假肢使用者、制造商和设计师的观点。
描述性定性研究，涉及49名使用假肢的小腿截肢者以及18名从事假肢设计、制造或开处方的专业人员。
对参与者进行访谈。每次访谈都进行转录，并进行常规内容分析以确定农业环境中小腿假肢的功能问题。
受访者报告称，接受腔与残肢分离，软质接受腔和袜子容易损坏且调整不当。由于僵硬，假肢脚承受压力，导致出现裂缝并加速损坏。固定螺丝松动、断裂和生锈，而装饰性泡沫会保持水分、穿孔并在阳光下变质。天气、湿气、泥土、高草以及不平或倾斜的地形会加剧假肢的损坏。
假肢设计应便于排汗或快速干燥，以解决软质接受腔和袜子的问题。接受腔应加衬垫以尽量减少对残肢的伤害。耐用、低成本且易于更换的软质接受腔对于农业环境至关重要。此外，农民需要一种假肢脚，当卡在灌木丛中或在不平/倾斜表面行走时能够弯曲，允许在两个生理平面上移动而不影响强度和耐用性。
