Studies have shown significantly shorter hospital stays and earlier return to mobilization when epidural analgesia was used in lower extremity surgeries. This study quantified the effects of epidural analgesia on lower extremity kinetics and kinematics during gait. There were no significant differences found in hip, knee, or ankle joint moments or angles between baseline (no drug) and epidural trials, using two different drugs. These findings indicate that epidural analgesia does not alter normal gait in healthy subjects, suggesting that patients requiring epidural analgesia following orthopaedic surgery may also be able to participate in rehabilitation without significant epidural-related changes in gait. Epidural analgesia has been used post-operatively following chest, abdominal and lower extremity surgery, with significantly shorter hospital stay and earlier return to mobilization demonstrated. This study quantified the effects of epidural analgesia on lower extremity kinetics and kinematics during gait. Ten healthy volunteers were tested on different days with two drugs. With the catheter (L3-L4 intervertebral space) in place but prior to drug administration, gait was assessed. Testing was repeated 30 min after drug administration. Motion and ground reaction force data were recorded during walking with a four-camera video-based system (Motion Analysis Corp) and force platform (Kistler). No significant differences existed in 3-D hip, knee, or ankle joint moments or angles among baseline (no drug) and drug trials. These findings indicate that epidural analgesia does not alter normal gait in healthy subjects, suggesting that patients requiring epidural analgesia following orthopaedic surgery may also be able to participate in rehabilitation without significant epidural-related changes in gait. It is well documented that early mobilization and rehabilitation following orthopaedic surgery improve healing and shorten hospital stay. However, pain often limits full participation. Epidural analgesia appears to be an appropriate mode of pain relief that, despite somatosensory changes, may allow normal gait. Epidural analgesia in healthy volunteers does not alter lower extremity kinetics or kinematics, suggesting that it may be an effective mode of pain relief that will allow better participation in therapy following orthopaedic surgery.
The relations among tissue quality, socket discomfort, gait characteristics, and socket pressures are not well established for the unilateral below-knee amputee population. These relations were evaluated for six amputees at seventeen regions of interest on the residual limb. Pressure sensors were placed directly on the residual limb. Peak dynamic socket pressures were not directly related to peak joint moments. However, increases in ground reaction forces (GRFs) related to increases in socket pressures. The relations among tissue quality, socket discomfort, gait characteristics, and socket pressures are not well established for the unilateral below-knee amputee population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate these relations for six amputees. A thorough understanding of pressure distribution between the residual limb and prosthetic socket is critical to socket design and limb health. The subjects ranged in age from thirty to seventy-two years of age. The inclusion criteria were male, unilateral transtibial amputation, ability to ambulate independently, non-diabetic, no debilitating health conditions, non-recent amputee. Tissue sensation and socket discomfort were evaluated at seventeen regions of interest on the residual limb. Tissue sensation was assessed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments to test light touch/deep pressure sensation, tuning fork to test vibration sensation, and pinprick to test pain sensation. Socket discomfort was assessed using 10 cm Visual Analogue Scale. Gait characteristics were recorded during walking using a Motion Analysis System. Socket pressure measurements were made using F-socket pressure sensors in conjunction with I-Scan software program. Pressure sensors were placed directly on residual limb. Gait characteristics and socket pressures were compared across three different testing days. The site-specific tissue sensitivity scores did not correlate with the socket discomfort scores. In addition, site-specific discomfort scores did not correlate with peak socket pressures recorded at subject’s normal walking speed. Significant day-to-day pressure differences were found at four of the seventeen areas of interest. Peak dynamic socket pressures were not directly related to peak joint moments. Two subjects demonstrated direct relations between ground reaction forces (GRFs) and socket pressure on the different test days.
