The History and Development of Artificial Limbs

1982; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 11; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1243/emed_jour_1982_011_045_02

ISSN

2058-3400

Autores

J. F. Orr, W V James, A.S. Bahrani,

Tópico(s)

Anatomy and Medical Technology

Resumo

The loss of a limb is a tragic event and artificial limbs are used to substitute for this loss. Early artificial limbs were crude, consisting of peg legs and hook hands. However, with the developments in surgery and technology better limbs became available. In the sixteenth century, surgeons who carried out the amputations recruited the help of craftsmen to provide their patients with artificial limbs which were functionally useful and resembled the shape of normal limbs. Significant advances in the development of limb fitting services have been prompted by the two World Wars. Rapid progress has been made since the 1940s. This is due to the collaboration of surgeons, engineers and prosthetists to employ new developments in technology and materials to the rehabilitation of amputees.

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