Ankle-foot prosthesis with articulated human bone endoskeleton: force-deflection and fatigue study.

The durability and function of three ankle-foot prostheses fabricated using a naturally articulated, fresh cadaveric human bone endoskeleton set in a fiber reinforced rubber shell were studied. Radiographic and force-deflection analyses before and after cyclic dorsiflexion for 5,000, 100,000, and 3 million cycles revealed no structural or functional changes. The endoskeleton foot compared favorably with the Jaipur ankle-foot prosthesis. It is concluded that formalin-fixed fresh foot bones with intact articulations obtained from cadaveric or surgically amputated limbs are suitable for use in ankle-foot prostheses because they withstand prolonged use without functional or structural deterioration.