New Hip Unit For The Canadian Hip Disarticulation Prosthesis
George Murdoch, M.B., F.R.C.S.Ed. *
Reprinted by permission of the author and editors from Scottish Health Bulletin, Vol. XXIII, No. 4, September 1965, pp. 81-82.
This mechanism is designed to simplify the manufacture and fitting during trial of the prosthesis used for hip disarticulation and hindquarter amputations.
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A split wedge-disc is interposed between socket and the artificial joint itself. This allows alteration of the spatial relationship between socket and joint. It permits a full 10° adjustment on either side of neutral about the vertical and lateral axes and unlimited movement about the longitudinal axis.
During fitting trial the socket is attached to the unit by a single 1/2" bolt and after satisfactory alignment is achieved, a further four high tensile screws lock the socket and hip joint unit together.
In accordance with British practice the design includes a hip limiter (stride length adjustment ) with a range of from 8° to 20°. Slightly modified the same unit can be used as a hip lock when required.
The device is designed for use with glass reinforced plastic sockets. The antero-lateral corner of the socket is built-up and shaped to accept the unit. The interior form of the socket is reconstituted with a foamed silicone rubber. This hip unit can also he used with a blocked leather socket but a steel tuber plate would be required as the leather would not be strong enough locally to sustain the loads imposed upon it.
This device was designed and constructed in the Prosthetic Research Department of Robert Kellie & Sons, Artificial Limb Manufacturers. Dundee, who have a patent pending. A limited trial of this unit is being carried out.
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