The principles of fitting a limb are the same in amputations of the leg in which we are obliged to make the patient walk upon the bent knee (too short a stump, the position of the scars, persistent osteitis, the impossibility of straightening the knee when it is ankylosed or stiff in a flexed position), as in the old-fashioned kneeling pin leg.
A posterior transverse band, passing over the bent stump helps to hold the limb on.
CHAPTER IV
ARTIFICIAL LIMB FOR DISARTICULATION AT THE HIP JOINT
Attempts have been made to attach to the pelvis, by means of a waist belt or braces, a wooden artificial limb whose upper end is fitted directly on to the tuberosity of the ischium. So far these have met with little success. In our opinion, the only really practical method is to enclose the whole stump and pelvis in a regular corset, and to attach the artificial limb to this corset.[8]
[8] Amongst English limb makers this moulded corset with the steel hip attachments is usually known as the "tilting table."—(Ed.)
The moulding of this corset upon the stump must be accurate.
The tuberosity of the ischium is the only bony point in the stump upon which pressure can be taken. The corset may be made of leather, but, until a new order is issued, the material of choice is celluloid, moulded upon a plaster of Paris cast, in spite of the disadvantage mentioned on [page 4].