Proposed Solution

After analyzing the clinical problem and determining design requirements and constraints, the team chose an adjustable “peg leg” style design as the most effective solution to the clinical problem. The design would consist of a leg-mimicking structure surrounding the injured limb, allowing the patient to walk in a normal gait pattern without placing a load on their injured leg. Force was to be transferred past the fractured femur by diverting it directly to the ischium, the portion of the pelvic bone on which you sit. Some properly oriented loading in the fractured segment is necessary for correct and sufficient bone regrowth, but too much force too early can cause damage and reverse the patient's healing progress. Because physicians stated that patients often do not know how much weight to place on their injured leg during recovery, it was decided that the device should feature an adjustable loading capacity. This was to function such that it could divert more or less of the person's weight away from the femur depending on physician prescription. The evolution of this solution from idea to reality can be viewed on our design approach page.