Results of the pilot phase of a clinical evaluation of computer aided design of trans-tibial prosthesis sockets.

This study served as a pilot to develop the methodology for a larger number of clinical trials. Ten trans-tibial amputees compared sockets made by conventional methods with sockets made using computer aided socket design (CASD). Prosthetists, paired for experience, fitted each subject with one prosthesis using each method. A preferred socket was selected by the subject on the basis of comfort without knowledge of the method by which the socket was designed. Prosthetists also evaluated the sockets. Three subjects preferred sockets built using CASD and one subject preferred the conventional socket only slightly more than the CASD socket. Six subjects clearly preferred the conventional fitting.