Lower leg prosthesis
A lower leg prosthesis is a body replacement that is used after an amputation of the leg below the knee joint . Since this type of prosthesis is located outside the body, it is one of the exoprostheses .
functionality
Lower leg prostheses consist of a shaft, a tubular skeleton , a foot and the cosmetic, which is adapted to the shape of the leg obtained. There are also prostheses in which the tubular skeleton is replaced by a hard shell (made of GFK / KFK ), for example in the case of bath prostheses. In some prostheses, so-called upper sleeves are also used, which are connected to the shaft with a joint, often with very short stumps in order to improve the hold. What they all have in common, however, is the form of load transfer. Pressure-insensitive areas on the stump are used for this. These include the patella ligament , the end of the residual limb , parts of the tibia , the structure between the tibia and fibula and the rear muscular part of the residual limb . Particularly pressure-sensitive areas are relieved. These include the bone ends of the tibia and fibula and the head of the fibula.
Types of prostheses
Lower leg prostheses can be classified in different ways. The first is the classification after attachment to the stump:
- with vacuum system (active or passive)
- with locking mechanism (shuttle lock or clutch lock)
- with double shaft system (soft-walled inner shaft and hard shaft)
The second classification is based on the shaft system:
- Lower leg prosthesis with upper sleeve
- PTB prosthesis
- Condylar bedding Münster
- Prosthesis tibial cone
- PTS prosthesis
A third classification is based on when the prosthesis is used. The so-called interim prostheses , which are used a few days or weeks after the amputation, are simply constructed and are only worn for a short period of time, as the residual limb volume changes very quickly after the operation. After approx. 3–6 months, the interim prostheses are replaced by definitive prostheses, which are much more stable, are worn over a longer period and are equipped with a cosmetic cover.
Components
Lower leg prostheses consist of a shaft individually manufactured by the orthopedic technician, a shaft adapter, a tube adapter, a tube and a foot adapter. The components of a prosthesis are individually tailored to each patient depending on the level of activity and weight.
See also
literature
- René Baumgartner, Bernhard Greitemann, Peter Teutrine: Basic course in technical orthopedics . Thieme, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 978-3131250711 .
- René Baumgartner, Pierre Botta: Amputation and prosthesis fitting of the lower extremity . Enke, Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 978-3432975016 .
