Prosthetic liner-socket design for children with long congenital and amputated shoulder

BACKGROUND: Traditional cosmetic prosthetic designs for a long shoulder stump in children have several disadvantages, such as a rigid uncomfortable receiving socket, the need to use a strap fastening, and the non-cosmetic product due to the disproportionate shoulder and forearm length compared with the preserved limb.

AIM: This study aimed to design, manufacture, and test a prototype of the shoulder stump liner-socket.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A new liner-socket of a shoulder cosmetic prosthesis has been developed, confirmed by a Russian Federation patent for an invention, which for the first time, in the practice of domestic prosthetics, is made of two types of silicone and has been successfully used in cosmetic prosthetics for 17 children, of whom 10 previously used traditional long stump prosthesis. Satisfaction with new liner-socket prosthesis was analyzed using a psychometric scale compared with a conventional prosthesis.

RESULTS: The developed design combines both the inner socket function, which allows the elbow hinge to be attached to it and the liner properties, which ensures a comfortable stay of the stump in the receiving socket due to the properties of silicone and excludes the use of traditional bandages.

CONCLUSIONS: The presented medical and technical solution ensures the simplicity and reliability of fastening the cosmetic shoulder stump prosthesis, including on the long shoulder stump, without disturbing the relatively healthy limb proportions, as well as wearing comfort.