Redness on the inferior aspect of the patella upon removal of a patellar tendon bearing prosthesis indicates the residual limb:

Redness on the inferior aspect of the patella upon removal of a patellar tendon bearing prosthesis indicates the residual limb:

• A. Is not far enough into the prosthesis and fewer socks should be worn
• B. Is not far enough into the prosthesis and additional socks should be worn
• C. Has slipped too far into the prosthesis and fewer socks should be worn
• D. Has slipped too far into the prosthesis and additional socks should be worn

Answer: (D)

Redness over a pressure area when a patellar tendon bearing socket is removed points to too much pressure from the socket on that spot. In a PTB fit, you adjust how far the limb sits inside the socket by changing the sock ply. More socks increase the space between the residual limb and the socket, effectively moving the limb slightly outward within the socket and reducing concentrated pressure on the inferior patellar region. So, redness at the inferior patella indicates the limb has slipped too far into the prosthesis, and adding socks helps relieve that pressure by restoring the proper depth. If the limb weren’t far enough in, or if you used fewer socks, the pressure pattern would be different and the problem wouldn’t be the same.

Redness over a pressure area when a patellar tendon bearing socket is removed points to too much pressure from the socket on that spot. In a PTB fit, you adjust how far the limb sits inside the socket by changing the sock ply. More socks increase the space between the residual limb and the socket, effectively moving the limb slightly outward within the socket and reducing concentrated pressure on the inferior patellar region.

So, redness at the inferior patella indicates the limb has slipped too far into the prosthesis, and adding socks helps relieve that pressure by restoring the proper depth. If the limb weren’t far enough in, or if you used fewer socks, the pressure pattern would be different and the problem wouldn’t be the same.