The History of Prosthetic Development and Advancements
It is important to understand and appreciate the history of prosthetic development and advancements to see how far we have come today. This blog will give an overview of what prosthetics were like during key time periods. Enjoy your reading!
As we go back in time, the earliest-known prosthetic toe belonged to an Egyptian mummy. This was made from wood and leather and was discovered in the 1800s. Dating from 300 BC, the Capua leg was found in Italy and is one of the oldest known prosthetic leg, discovered in the late 1800s. It was made of a wooden core sheathed in bronze. Unfortunately, the Capua leg was destroyed amid the World War II bombings, but you can find a replica at the Science Museum in London.
One of the earliest references to prosthetics was by Ambroise Paré, a French surgeon who operated on amputees. His book published in 1579, explained some of the limbs he had fitted. Paré, a military physician who had to amputate many soldiers' broken arms and legs, finally started creating prosthetic limbs to aid injured troops. Paré wanted to make his designed limbs work the way biological limbs worked, so when designing legs, he mentioned a mechanical knee that locked when standing and bent at will.
Moving through the Middle Ages and The Renaissance, knights usually relied on prosthetics made from iron, frequently crafted by the same metalworker who made their amour. Pirates, during this era, wore wooden legs and had a metal-shaped hook as their hands. The materials used in these periods were copper, iron, steel, and wood.
During the 19th and 20th Centuries, the field of prosthetics began to advance. Wood and steel were used for prosthetics until around 1863 when the cosmetic rubber hand was introduced. Due to its flexibility and resiliency, rubber was a great alternative to these materials. It is important to note James Edward Hanger’s work. Hanger was the first amputee of the American Civil War after being struck in the leg by a cannonball. He was unhappy with the heavy prosthetic, so he devised and constructed a replacement made from whittled barrel staves. Hanger could sit and walk more freely because of his innovative leg, which had hinges on the knee and the foot. When Hanger obtained the contract to create limbs for Confederate veterans, he established "Hanger, Inc.", which had a significant impact on the orthotics and prosthetics industry. In place of wood and leather, new materials such as plastics, polycarbonates, resins, and laminates were introduced. Additionally, each patient's synthetic sockets were individually, comfortably, and hygienically fitted.
In more recent times, prosthetic design has highly developed into being lighter, stronger, and more realistic compared to what artificial limbs were like centuries ago. We can see patients' sockets being individually, comfortably, and hygienically fitted. There are amazing technological advancements that can be seen in the O&P market. For example, technology is used for 3D printing, digital design tools, device implants, and more. Here at Adapttech, we are proud to be contributing to these amazing technological advancements through our innovative prosthetic products. Adapttech aims to continue developing smart technologies that will aid prosthetic users to live a better life with improved mobility. We have come a long way from using wood and leather for prosthetics, and it will be exciting to see how modern-day prosthetics will advance in a few years.
