An evaluation of the effectiveness of the patellar tendon bar in the trans-tibial patellar-tendon-bearing prosthesis socket.

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between varying depths of the patellar tendon bar in trans-tibial prosthesis sockets and the pressures exerted by other regions within the socket, such as the tibial crest, medial and lateral tibial condyles, lateral femoral condyle and the distal tibial end. Five (5) patients selected from a population of trans-tibial amputees in Singapore. Patellar-tendon-bearing (PTB) sockets were made for them. Polypropylene spacers 2 mm thick were used to simulate the increasing depths of the patellar tendon bar. P-Scan pressure transducers were inserted into the sockets to measure the pressures exerted by the socket and the data collected were analysed statistically to see if there was a relationship between varying PTB depths and pressures exerted from selected parts of the socket.