Walking ability of individuals fitted with transfemoral bone-anchored prostheses: A comparative study of gait parameters.

The sample size was very small (26 participants total), limiting the power to detect differences and the generalisability of the findings. The study was retrospective and cross-sectional, meaning it cannot establish causality or track changes within individuals over time. Prosthetic components varied among participants, including different knee and foot models, which may have influenced gait parameters. The able-bodied control group was not matched to the prosthesis groups, potentially introducing confounding variables. The study only measured walking at a self-selected comfortable speed on a flat surface, so it does not address performance on uneven terrain or during complex tasks.

Laurent Frossard has worked as a consultant for several organisations, including those related to amputee care and prosthetics. Funding was provided by INAIL (Italy), the Australian Research Council, and the US Department of Defense.

Do not interpret the narrower step width and shorter double support time as proof that bone-anchored prostheses are clinically superior to socket-suspended ones. These differences were observed in a small, retrospective sample, and the study did not measure patient-reported outcomes, fall rates, or energy expenditure to confirm a functional benefit.