Analysis of static pelvic tilt variations in transfemoral prosthesis users: comparison of different socket designs with healthy controls

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate pelvic tilt angles in patients with transfemoral prosthesis, considering different socket designs, and to compare them with healthy controls. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 28 male participants were enrolled, including 14 unilateral transfemoral prosthesis users (prosthesis group) and 14 demographically similar healthy subjects (control group). Pelvic tilt angles in both sagittal and frontal planes were measured using a digital inclinometer mounted on a two-arm caliper. Results: All participants had anterior pelvic tilt. Within the prosthesis group, there was no significant difference in anterior pelvic tilt and lateral pelvic tilt angles between the prosthetic side and the contralateral side (p=0.106, effect size (ES)=0.464; p=0.055, ES=-0.564, respectively). There was no significant difference in anterior pelvic tilt and lateral pelvic tilt angles between the prosthetic side and the contralateral side of the participants using both quadrilateral socket design and ischial containment socket designs (p=0.499, ES=-0.256; p=0.128, ES=-0.575; p=0.063, ES=-0.703; p=0.612, ES=-0.192, respectively). However, a significant difference was found in both the right and left anterior pelvic tilt angles and the lateral pelvic tilt angles between the prosthesis group and the control group (p=0.001, ES=-0.582; p