Advanced Prosthetics PTE Page

The history of the prosthetic limb dates back to the Egyptian era, with the first prosthetic being created for an Egyptian noblewoman. Now, you might be wondering, is it an arm? Is it a leg? Well, not exactly. The first prosthetic known was a prosthetic big toe. This was fashioned so the noblewoman could wear the traditional Egyptian footwear. It's important to note that prosthetics have not changed in the 3,000+ years since the toe was fashioned. Prosthetics, both then and now have been fashioned out of basic materials, like wood, metal and leather. Today, they're significantly more advanced, being made out of plastics, carbon fiber, titanium, and aluminum. Some prosthetics today are even able to be controlled by the wearer's mind. But, let's get to the timeline and go over the history a bit more in depth.

   Prosthetic History

950-710 BC- The first prosthetic limb was created. It was a wooden toe fashioned for an Egyptian noblewoman so she could wear the traditional footwear of the time, and it was re-fitted several times to properly fit the woman's foot. This prosthetic was discovered by researchers in 2011.

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600 BC- Another prosthetic toe was created, and it was made of cartonnage, a material consisting of linen, plaster and glue. This toe was discovered in 2000 in modern day Luxor, a city in southern Egypt. This was the first prosthesis to be made of a different material around the same time period as the wooden prosthesis. (no image of this was found.)

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300 BC- The oldest known prosthetic leg was believed to be created in this period. This leg was known as the "Capua leg", and it was crafted by ancient Romans out of bronze or iron and a wooden core. The original example was held at the Royal College of Surgeons in London, but it was destroyed in World War 2 bombings. A replica now resides at the Science Museum in London.

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476-1000 (Middle Ages)- Simple prosthetics like hook hands and peg legs were common in those who couldn't afford a proper prosthesis. Knights often had prosthetics, but they were not functional, and were only designed to hold a shield or stay in a stirrup. Tradesmen also entered the prosthetics manufacturing business, and created ornate limbs with springs and gears, which helped add increased functionality.

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1400s-1800s (The Renaissance)- The design of prosthetics didn't change very much during this time frame, however the materials used to make them improved. The prosthetics made in this time frame were made from copper, iron, steel and wood, and they were much stronger due to their refined materials. However, they were heavy and uncomfortable to wear.

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1863- The U.S. started to see improvements in prosthetic limbs due to the advent of the Civil War. Rubber prosthetic hands with fingers that bend and flex normally started to appear, and these hands were able to have attachments added (hooks and brushes were the most common attachments.)

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1945- After World War 2, prosthetics were simplified once again, being made out of wood and leather. They were functional, but they were uncomfortable to wear all day because of their weight, and in addition, the leather straps used to hold the limb in place absorbed any sweat that the wearer had would absorb into the leather, which made cleaning the limb a challenge.

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1970s-1990s- Plastics, polycarbonates, resins and laminates were introduced as newer, lighter materials that were easier to clean than the status quo, leather and wood. Carbon fiber also saw it's introduction to prosthetic manufacturing in this time frame. Synthetic sockets also came out at same time, which gave the wearer a proper fit, custom to their body. Synthetic sockets were also significantly more hygienic than a standard socket.

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2000-present-- Prosthetics over the last 19 years is a culmination of all of the previous improvements and edits to prosthetics over the centuries. In the past 2 decades, prosthetics have appeared in the form of lightweight running blades, legs and feet that can differentiate between terrain, and even newer; prosthetics that can be controlled by a person's mind. These advanced prosthetics are being developed by researchers and institutions around the world (but most notably at the University of Pittsburgh and Johns Hopkins, two prestigious education centers in the United States) to reach the ultimate goal; to make a prosthetic that feels real, that feels human, like the wearer never lost their limb in the first place.