Optimal material selection study of prosthetic socket and pylon tube in transtibial prosthesis fabrication

Abstract

The selection for the fabrication of transtibial prosthesis in developing countries is favoring what materials can be readily available. Given numerous options, a multi-criteria decision-making process can be effectively implemented to choose the optimal materials based on design requirement without compromising the target mechanical properties and comfort for the patient. In this study, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and preference ranking organization method for enrichment evaluations (PROMETHEE) methods were used as a decision-making tool for materials selection of prosthetic socket and pylon tube. The criteria for the candidate materials such as flexural strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, yield strength and impact strength were evaluated and each criterion was given a weight using AHP, while the materials selection calculation was done using TOPSIS and PROMETHEE. For the prosthetic socket, same ranking was observed for both TOPSIS and PROMETHEE. The carbon fiber reinforced composite (CFRC) was ranked first and closely followed by pineapple fiber reinforced composite (PFRC). TOPSIS ranked PFRC highest for the pylon tube material, followed by titanium alloy while this ranking was interchanged in PROMETHEE, putting first preference for the use of pineapple fiber reinforced composite then followed by titanium alloy. Therefore, the pineapple fiber reinforced composite can be an ideal alternative for the standard carbon fiber socket and titanium pylon tubes in fabricating a transtibial prosthesis.