Re: Bilateral lower limb prostheses length
Bill Lifford
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Bilateral lower limb prostheses length
Creator:
Bill Lifford
Date:
5/13/1999
Text:
>I am a student at the Cambodian School of Prosthetics and Orthotics.
>Can anyone tell me the formula for determining the proper length for
bilateral transtibial and transfemoral prostheses? Is there a definitive
relationship between the length of the lower limb and the upper limb or
trunk? Is there a difference between children and adults?
Hello Sisary,
Proper length of bilateral AK or BK prostheses is a subjective issue.
One thing you want to consider is, aside from asking the patient / client /
etc. how tall they want to be, is the height of their center of gravity.
Often a bilateral patient is lowered in order to lower their center of
gravity and therefore reduce the risk of falling. This is especially
important on transfemoral (above-knee) amputees.
You could check an anthropomorphic chart for approximate relationships
between the lengths and sizes of various body segments. Our Prosthetics
school (Newington in Connecticut, USA) gave us each one of these charts.
Perhaps if you're interested, I could contact them and get them to send you
one?
As far as children are concerned, it would seem that a child could be placed
proportionately higher than an adult due to their resiliency and no fear
attitudes.
Good luck,
Bill Lifford. C.P.
ARIMED Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics
Brooklyn, NY
718-875-8754
>Can anyone tell me the formula for determining the proper length for
bilateral transtibial and transfemoral prostheses? Is there a definitive
relationship between the length of the lower limb and the upper limb or
trunk? Is there a difference between children and adults?
Hello Sisary,
Proper length of bilateral AK or BK prostheses is a subjective issue.
One thing you want to consider is, aside from asking the patient / client /
etc. how tall they want to be, is the height of their center of gravity.
Often a bilateral patient is lowered in order to lower their center of
gravity and therefore reduce the risk of falling. This is especially
important on transfemoral (above-knee) amputees.
You could check an anthropomorphic chart for approximate relationships
between the lengths and sizes of various body segments. Our Prosthetics
school (Newington in Connecticut, USA) gave us each one of these charts.
Perhaps if you're interested, I could contact them and get them to send you
one?
As far as children are concerned, it would seem that a child could be placed
proportionately higher than an adult due to their resiliency and no fear
attitudes.
Good luck,
Bill Lifford. C.P.
ARIMED Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics
Brooklyn, NY
718-875-8754
Citation
Bill Lifford, “Re: Bilateral lower limb prostheses length,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/211743.
