The energetically passive behavior of typical prostheses limits the extent to which such prostheses can replicate healthy limb function. Despite this, unilateral transfemoral amputees can largely offset these deficiencies with compensatory actions from their unaffected leg. In the case of bilateral transfemoral amputees, however, the biomechanical deficiencies of passive prostheses cannot be masked by such compensatory actions, and therefore the deficiencies in locomotion are considerably more evident. As a result, although bilateral trans- femoral amputees constitute a relative small proportion of lower extremity amputees, this population is substantially more disabled than their unilateral or transtibial counterparts. A powered prosthesis (i.e., with powered knee and ankle joints) is able to emulate the biomechanical behaviors of the healthy limb to a much greater extent than a passive prosthesis. As such, the underlying hypothesis of this proposal is that a pair of powered prostheses will better restore gait to bilateral transfemoral amputees, relative to passive prostheses. In particular, this hypothesis will be evaluated on six bilateral transfemoral amputee subjects by assessing the extent to which the powered prostheses reduce hip joint torque and power, and the extent to which powered prostheses reduce the metabolic cost of transport, relative to each subject's daily-use passive prostheses.

Public Health Relevance

Bilateral transfemoral amputees have great difficulty walking, and abandon their prostheses at an alarming rate. Unlike unilateral transfemoral amputees, bilateral amputees cannot compensate with a sound leg for the deficiencies of typical lower limb prostheses. This study proposes a prosthetic intervention for this population that could substantially improve their ability to walk, and thus considerably improve their quality of life.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
5R21HD076124-02
Application #
8791116
Study Section
Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Sciences Study Section (MRS)
Program Officer
Quatrano, Louis A
Project Start
2014-01-15
Project End
2015-12-31
Budget Start
2015-01-01
Budget End
2015-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$207,803
Indirect Cost
$57,364
Name
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Department
Physical Medicine & Rehab
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004413456
City
Nashville
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
37212
Lawson, Brian E; Ruhe, Brian; Shultz, Amanda et al. (2015) A powered prosthetic intervention for bilateral transfemoral amputees. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 62:1042-50