Assessment of Socket Shapes Made by Central Fabrication Facilities

Clinical Evaluation of an Algorithm to Assess Sockets Made by Central Fabrication Facilities

Quality and accuracy of prosthetic sockets manufactured by central fabrication facilities may be lacking. Poor quality manufacturing can be detrimental to socket fit in amputees and may require more work by prosthetists to redesign the socket. The aim of this research is to assess the accuracy of prosthetic sockets manufactured by commercial companies. Determination of how and where manufacturing errors occur will contribute to better quality of socket fit for the amputee patient and improve the efficiency of prosthetists who fit the manufactured products to their patients.

Computer manufactured sockets are made for subjects, then their fits assessed by research practitioners.

Inclusion Criteria:

• trans-tibial amputees who use a prosthesis and are ambulatory

Exclusion Criteria:

• do not have a prosthesis, cannot ambulate