Fabrication of transfemoral prosthesis utilizing additive manufacturing and reverse engineering: a scoping review

Prosthetic rehabilitation refers to the process of restoring or improving a patient's physical function, appearance, and quality of life through the use of prosthetic devices. Providing cost-effective prosthetic rehabilitation for transfemoral amputees remains a challenging task. Traditional prosthetic fabrication methods, such as casting and lamination, are expensive and prone to fitting errors. Moreover, these methods are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and lack data-driven precision, heavily relying on artisanal expertise for socket fitting. However, recent advancements in rapid prototyping technologies, in conjunction with Reverse Engineering through 3D scanners, offer a promising alternative. This scoping review explores the current state of knowledge in transfemoral prosthesis fabrication, with a focus on additive manufacturing (AM), RE, and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) methods. A systematic database search on PubMed and LENS.ORG was conducted, followed by a thorough analysis of selected articles. The review highlights major research areas, including pressure/stress/strain distribution analysis at the socket-stump interface, gait cycle assessment, and developments in 3D printing of knee and ankle joints. Critical appraisals of each article provide valuable insights for future research and advancements in affordable prosthetic rehabilitation. In conclusion, the utilization of AM, RE, and CAM methods for TFP fabrication is in its infancy but holds immense potential for improving cost-effective solutions in this domain.