Gait Analysis for Prosthetic Ambulation of Hip Disarticulation: A case report

ABSTRACT

There have been a many reports of observational analysis on hip disarticulation prosthetic ambulation, but not a scientific analysis by a computerized motion analyzer. We present to share with our professional colleague our invaluable experience gained from the study on the gait analysis of a left hip disarticulation prosthetic gait. Using a Vicon 370 three dimensional gait analysis system, the gait analysis was performed in a left hip disarticulation patient fitted with a left Canadian type hip disarticulation prosthesis. In linear parameters, the cadence showed 79 steps/min, the gait speed was 0.68 m/sec, and the double support phase was 25.27% of a total gait cycle. In kinematics, the maximal pelvic tilt angle showed 29.92o at pre-swing phase, and significantly increased as compared with normal person. Hip motion change remained flexed, and maximal knee flexion angle disclosed 22.07o at the terminal stage of initial swing phase. In kinetics, the hip extension moment on initial contact stage was 0.089 NM/kg, which was impaired being compared with normal person. In conclusion, the increased pelvic tilt which implies that initiation of a prosthetic gait for hip disarticulation comes from a forward swing of the pelvis on the affected side, and an overall decrease of gait parameters accounts for the degree of disability of hip disarticulation amputee.