Clinical field testing of vulcanized Jaipur rubber feet for trans-tibial amputees in low-income countries.

The purpose of this study was to check out the performance and durability of vulcanized Jaipur rubber feet in tropical areas of the developing world. Forty-one MUKTI and 40 NISHA feet were followed for 16 (8-17) months. The user compliance was high and nearly all were satisfied. Failure of the prosthetic foot with the need for exchange at the end of the study amounted to 27% (22/81), which is equivalent to a mixed series of rubber feet previously reported (Jansen et al. 2006b). Failures were mostly related to skin fracture and gliding between sponge rubber layers of the heel block.