1
|
Gnyawali SC, Denune JA, Hockman B, Kristjánsdóttir JV, Ragnarsdóttir MS, Timsina LR, Ghatak S, Lechler K, Sen CK, Roy S. Moisture mitigation using a vented liner and a vented socket system for individuals with transfemoral amputation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16557. [PMID: 37783779 PMCID: PMC10545693 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43572-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Sweating and heat buildup at the skin-liner interface is a major challenge for persons with limb loss. Liners made of heat-non-conducting materials may cause sweating of the residual limb and may result in liners slipping off the skin surface especially on a warm day or during high activity, causing skin breakdown and affecting limb health. To address this, we evaluated the efficacy of the vented liner-socket system (VS, Össur) compared to Seal-In silicone liner and non-vented socket (nVS, Össur) in reducing relative humidity (RH) during increased sweat. Nine individuals with limb loss using nVS were randomized to VS or nVS and asked for activity in a 20-min treadmill walk. RH was significantly attenuated (p = 0.0002) and perceived sweating, as reported by prosthesis users, improved (p = 0.028) with VS, patient-reported comprehensive lower limb amputee socket survey (CLASS) outcomes to determine the suspension, stability, and comfort were not significantly different between VS and nVS. There are limited rigorous scientific studies that clearly provide evidence-based guidelines to the prosthetist in the selection of liners from numerous available options. The present study is innovative in clearly establishing objective measures for assessing humidity and temperatures at the skin-liner interface while performing activity. As shown by the measured data and perceived sweat scores provided by the subjects based on their daily experience, this study provided clear evidence establishing relative humidity at the skin-liner interface is reduced with the use of a vented liner-socket system when compared to a similar non-vented system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Surya C Gnyawali
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (MIRM), Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey A Denune
- Indiana Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME), Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Centre, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Bryce Hockman
- Indiana Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME), Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Centre, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | | | - Lava R Timsina
- Indiana Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME), Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Centre, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Subhadip Ghatak
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (MIRM), Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Indiana Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME), Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Centre, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Knut Lechler
- Össur Ehf., R&D, Medical Office, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Chandan K Sen
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (MIRM), Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Indiana Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME), Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Centre, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Sashwati Roy
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine (MIRM), Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Indiana Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering (ICRME), Indiana University Health Comprehensive Wound Centre, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|