Incorporating Scientific Findings Into Clinical Practice

The cold winter month of January is often a good time to surf the Web for interesting topics about our field. One of my all-time favorites is the REHAB-Tech site maintained by Bill Contayannis and cohorts. Check out www.monash.edu.au/rehabtech/research/research.htm for an interesting list of research projects to peruse.

For example, have you ever wondered about the strength and durability of various vacuum-bagged acrylic laminations? Ever been curious about the effect of a loose PVA bag, which results in a thicker lamination? Ever pondered the ability of fiberglass stockinet versus nylon-glass weaves such as Nylglass to resist compressive loads?

If so, surf on over to www.monash.edu.au/rehabtech/research/laminate.htm and download the report on "Laminated Socket Properties". This report will give you test results to select and justify one type of lay-up and lamination technique over another.

A simple bracket can be fabricated to mount a video camera adjacent to the clear test socket during dynamic alignment, allowing the prosthetist to observe the pattern of skin blanching under dynamic loads.
A simple bracket can be fabricated to mount a video camera adjacent to the clear test socket during dynamic alignment, allowing the prosthetist to observe the pattern of skin blanching under dynamic loads.

www.monash.edu.au/rehabtech/research/dynamic.htm describes an experiment where a very low cost digital camera was mounted onto a transtibial prosthesis and focused through the clear test socket. The use of slow motion video allowed the prosthetist to visualize the motion of the skin within the socket, and to observe directly how the pattern of skin blanching varied under dynamic loads.

The surveillance camera industry has a number of color cameras available that would work well for this purpose, including some that transmit the signal wirelessly.

www.monash.edu.au/rehabtech/research/CRACK.HTM is a very interesting summary report of cyclic testing of a 30 millimeter aluminum prosthetic pylon that had been deliberately drilled [to create a stress riser] and then was tested under ISO loads to failure. It also includes a brief paper suggesting inspection intervals for endoskeletal prostheses based on the patient's activity level.

Finite Element Analysis can be used to predict when a damaged prosthetic component will fail, and then this estimation can be tested by cycling an actual component that has been damaged under load.
Finite Element Analysis can be used to predict when a damaged prosthetic component will fail, and then this estimation can be tested by cycling an actual component that has been damaged under load.

By the way, the Academy has invited Bill Contayannis to conduct an Advanced Training Seminar on " Material Science and P&O Design" again in 2003. This highly acclaimed course will be held in Chicago again this year but it has been expanded to a 3-day program, from May 1-3. Many of the reports noted above will be incorporated into this program. You can visit the Resource site from last year's course at http://rehabtech.eng.monash.edu.au/matsci/ for more details about the content, and check in at the Academy's web site www.oandp.org/educ/cal/index.htm for registration information.



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