Many transfemoral amputees wearing conventional socket prostheses experience pain related to the socket-residuum interface and difficulties with socket retention or fit due to a short residuum. In consideration of these problems a direct skeletal fixation method has been developed whereby a titanium implant is screwed into the medullary canal of the residual femur. Prosthetic components are directly attached to the fixation, once osseointegrated, removing the need for a prosthetic socket. The rehabilitation program to return to ambulation involves incremental static loading of the fixation until full weight bearing is achieved. The rate of loading, which is intended to be isolated to the long axis of the fixation, is determined by the quality of the residual skeleton and a qualitative assessment of the pain experienced by the amputee on loading. Rotational loading of the implant is to be avoided at this stage. The amputee uses a domestic weigh-scale to provide feedback of the load applied. This study aims to measure the true load applied to the fixation and compare this with the clinically prescribed axial load
