Load on osseointegrated fixation of a transfemoral amputee during a fall: Determination of the time and duration of descent.

Abstract

Mitigation of fall-related injuries for populations of transfemoral amputees fitted with a socket or an osseointegrated fixation is challenging. Wearing a protective device fitted within the prosthesis might be a possible solution, provided that issues with automated fall detection and time of deployment of the protective mechanism are solved. The first objective of this study was to give some examples of the times and durations of descent during a real forward fall of a transfemoral amputee that occurred inadvertently while attending a gait measurement session to assess the load applied on the residuum. The second objective was to present five semi-automated methods of detection of the time of descent using the load data. The load was measured directly at 200 Hz using a six-channel transducer. The average time and duration of descent were 242 ± 42 ms (145-310 ms) and 619 ± 42 ms (550-715 ms), respectively. This study demonstrated that the transition between walking and falling was characterized by times of descent that occurred sequentially. The sensitivity and specificity of an automated algorithm might be improved by combining several methods of detection based on the deviation of the loads measured from their own trends and from a template previously established.