Lower leg prostheses

Lower leg prosthesis Modular shin prostheses are one of the most widely used orthopedic devices in the world. These are prostheses used in patients after amputations below the knee. The lower leg prosthesis consists of several main components: Prosthetic socket - this element is made individually for each patient in an orthopedic facility. It follows the exact shape of the stump. It is one of the most important elements of the prosthesis because it is the connection between the prosthesis and the body of the amputee and is the comfort of the prosthesis used. We distinguish different types of sockets to the type of amputation, the material of the funnel and the way it adheres to the stump. The tendency of the residual limb to change its volume is one of the biggest problems in prosthetic. Adapters - These are the elements connecting the individual modules of the structure. They can be made of various types of materials. We can divide them according to whether they are passive or functional. Passive elements are, for example, tube adapters, connecting adapters, lamination adapters - they only connect individual prosthesis modules, they do not fulfill any function. Functional adapters, on the other hand, create new possibilities for the prosthesis, such as rotating and sliding adapters, as well as shock absorbers. Prosthetic foot - A very important element of a modular prosthesis is the prosthetic foot. How it behaves in contact with the ground will influence the behavior of the entire prosthesis. From a mechanical point of view, the feet can be divided into two simple categories. These are feet with a movable ankle joint and stiff feet without a joint. We can also divide them according to the material they are made of. There are many such solutions, which is a great advantage of the modular prosthesis system, thanks to which each mechanism can be individually adapted to the user's needs. Due to the type of material they are made of, we can distinguish feet with a mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, pneumatic-hydraulic joint, and the most popular carbon fiber alloys. The latest developments are electronic alloys with a built-in microprocessor.