Researchers at the University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus, US, have developed the Colorado Limb Donning-Timed Up and Go (COLD-TUG) test that measures both the time it takes to don a prosthesis and the mobility of lower-limb amputees.
Their findings indicate that a bone-anchored prosthesis can be donned rapidly than a traditional socket-style prosthesis, marking the first time this test has been validated as a tool for measuring performance for lower-limb amputees with bone-anchored prostheses.
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According to the university, subjects reported that a bone-anchored limb (BAL) prosthesis, which directly integrates into the bone, provides better physical activity, sitting comfort, balance, and range of motion in donning and doffing compared to the traditional socket prosthesis.
However, the lack of precise, performance-based, population-specific testing meant evidence of the way this influenced quality of life was limited.
To address this gap, the researchers utilised the COLD-TUG mobility test, developed under the leadership of orthopaedic trauma surgeon Jason Stoneback who is an associate professor of orthopaedics at the CU School of Medicine.
The test claims to assess the time in seconds needed for an individual to put on the prosthesis, stand up, walk approximately ten feet, turn, return to the chair, and sit down.
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By GlobalDataThe team assessed 31 individuals with unilateral lower extremity amputation, with 15 using a traditional socket-style prosthesis and 16 using a BAL prosthesis.
While no significant differences in baseline characteristics were found between the two groups, the research highlighted that BAL patients could be able to don their prosthesis approximately 61 seconds faster than those with a socket-style prosthesis.
These outcomes are said to back the patients’ reports stating that a BAL prosthesis provides more balance, stability, and mobility.
Stoneback said: “We are not just capturing speed with this test. The COLD-TUG test quantifies something amputees have been experiencing for years. By measuring what is important to this population of patients, we as providers can help them choose the best option for their lives.”
