A Manual for Above-Knee Amputees

Hip-Disarticulation and Hemipelvectomy Prostheses

Most of the components designed for above-knee prostheses are suitable for amputees who have lost function about the hip due to amputation just below the hip joint, at the hip joint (hip-disarticulation), or hemipelvectomy (when half of the pelvis has been removed.) To provide good control of the leg, the artificial hip joint is placed on the front of the socket rather than opposite the anatomical hip joint, an arrangement that provides better control of the prosthesis.

For these prostheses, the socket is either of laminated plastic or a thermoplastic, and the construction is usually modular that is, pylon, or endoskeletal, because this type of construction results in a relatively lightweight prosthesis.

The hemipelvectomy prosthesis presents an added problem to the prosthetist because there is no ichial bone present to aid in weight bearing.

All of the instructions given about use of the above-knee prosthesis apply equally to the hip-disarticulation and hemipelvectomy prostheses.

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Copyright 1996 - Alvin L. Muilenburg and A. Bennett Wilson, jr.

The electronic version of this manual is presented by Dankmeyer, Inc., with the permission of the authors. This manual may not be redistributed in any form.