Fluid volume management in prosthesis users: Augmenting panel release with pin release

INTRODUCTION: Management of fluid in the limbs is a challenge faced by people with disabilities. In prosthetics, a means for transtibial prosthesis users to stabilize their residual limb fluid volume during the day may improve socket fit. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine if releasing the panels and locking pin of a cabled-panel adjustable socket during socket release significantly improved limb fluid volume recovery and retention over releasing the panels alone. DESIGN: Repeated-measures experiment to assess the effects on limb fluid volume retention. SETTING: Participants were tested in a laboratory setting while walking on a treadmill. INTERVENTION: Release of a locking pin tether during sitting as a limb volume accommodation strategy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Percent limb fluid volume retention for panel and pin release compared with panel release alone at 2 min (short-term) and 50 min (long-term) after subsequent activity. Limb fluid volume was monitored using bioimpedance analysis. RESULTS: Median percent limb fluid volume retention for the panel and pin release was significantly greater than panel release alone for both anterior and posterior regions for the long-term (P = 0.0499 and 0.0096, respectively) but not the short-term (P = 0.0712 and 0.1580, respectively). CONCLUSION: Augmenting panel release with pin release may be an effective accommodation strategy for prosthesis users with transtibial amputation to better retain limb fluid volume. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.