Introduction: What is a Prosthetic Limb?

The term prosthesis refers, to an artificial device that replaces a missing body part that mimics the function or the appearance of the lost part, which may be lost through trauma, disease, or a condition present at birth. Prosthetics depend on science and technology to provide such devices, which are designed to restore some kind of functioning in the body by replacing lost structures and functions.

A Brief History of Artificial Limb Development

The evolution of prosthetics is a long and storied history, from its primitive beginnings to its sophisticated present, to the exciting visions of the future. As in the development of any other field, some ideas and inventions have worked and been expanded upon, such as the fixed-position foot, while others have fallen by the wayside or become obsolete, such as the use of the iron in a prosthesis.

In order to understand the evolution of prosthetics, it is necessary to look at their development in three eras:

-Ancient times through the Renaissance

-The Age of Enlightenment

-The Industrial Revolution 

-Modern times

The long and winding road to today’s technology began about 1500 BC. The evolution of prosthetics has been a part of that journey, with many refinements and improvements over the years. One entry in the Rig Veda, dating to around 3500 BC – 1800 BC, stated that during a battle with a neighboring territory Queen Vishpala, received a blow that amputated one of her legs. After a time, when the amputation had healed, she was fitted with an iron leg in order to return to the battlefield in defense of her kingdom once more (Rig Veda, 1.112, 116, 117, 118 & 10.39). While there is a written record of the limb, there has been no discovery of the iron leg used by Queen Vishpala, or one like it.

 The evidence of the usage of prosthetics dates back to as early as the ancient Egyptians. In one case, it was found that a mummy’s big toe had been amputated during its lifetime and supplanted with a carefully crafted wooden toe belonging to a noblewoman, was found in Egypt and dated to 950-710 B.C.E. As we see a feather in the history of prosthesis An artificial leg dating to about 300 B.C. was found at Capua, Italy, in 1858. It was made of bronze and iron, with a wooden core, apparently for a below‐knee amputee. The prosthesis was destroyed during an air raid on London in 1941. There have been found various ancient literature containing references to prosthetic limbs in stories and poems, but some of the earliest historical accounts of prosthetic limb use were recorded in Greek and Roman times.

 For instance, there’s the historical account of Marcus Sergius, a Roman general who lost his right hand while battling in the second Punic War. Famously, he had a replacement hand fashioned out of iron for the purpose of holding his shield and was able to return to battle and continue fighting. Then comes the DARK AGES where sea pirates rule the oceans, One of the most famously attributed to seafaring pirates, had peg legs with wooden cores and metal hands shaped into hooks that have actually been the prosthetic standard throughout much of history.

 While Hollywood and cartoon at some time have exaggerated their use of hooks and peg legs, pirates did sometimes rely on these types of prostheses. Most prostheses of this time were made to hide deformities or injuries sustained in battle. For example, a knight would be fitted with a prosthesis that was designed only to hold a shield or for a leg to appear in the stirrups. Little attention was paid to functionality. Outside of battle, only the wealthy were lucky enough to be fitted with a peg leg or hand hook for daily function.

Then from 1508 to the early 16th century, there was minor advancement in the prosthesis, where various tradesmen and watchmakers played an important role in the contribution of prosthetic Devices in adding intricate internal functions with small springs and gears for the added functionality.

The Era of Ambroise Pare:

Then in the early part of the 16th century a french Army barber/surgeon Ambroise Paré is considered by many to be the father of modern amputation surgery and prosthetic design. Ambroise contributed some of the first major advances in prosthetics seen for many years. Ambroise invented a hinged mechanical hand as well as prosthetic legs that featured advances such as locking knees and specialized attachment harnesses. While we are on the topic of the contribution we should also mention A colleague of Ambroise, Lorrain, a French locksmith, offered one of the most important contributions to the field when he used leather, paper, and glue in place of heavy iron in making a prosthesis. From 1690 to somewhere between 1846 many variations made a spot in the advancement of the prosthesis. Douglas Bly invented and patented Doctor Bly’s anatomical leg in 1858, which he referred to as “the most complete and successful invention ever attained in artificial limbs.”

the times of the American Civil War hastened the development of prosthetic limbs. The drastic rise in the number of amputees forced the development of new prosthetics such as the Hanger Limb. Unlike the Civil War, World War I did not foster much advancement in the field. Following World War II, veterans were dissatisfied with the lack of technology in their devices and demanded improvement. This paved the way for the development and production of modern prostheses.

The Modern Era:

Today’s devices are much lighter, made of plastic, aluminum, and perhaps composite materials to provide amputees with the most functional devices possible. It seems that a lot of people see the artificial limb as a symbol of disability or a way to keep it concealed. The truth is, though, that for those who are lucky enough to live with a prosthesis, it is more than just a useful tool; it allows them to regain control of their daily lives.

 A hand is nothing but an extra finger or two if you can’t use them to grasp and hold onto things, to lift and carry objects around in your everyday life. And this is why lighter limbs are needed – not only because they look better on healthy limbs, but because they restore functionality, allowing amputees to regain their independence and self-confidence.

Conclusion & Future Forecast for Artificial Limbs

As the technology for prosthetic devices grows and becomes more advanced, it’s likely that bionic arms and legs will improve significantly in the coming years. Prosthetic limbs may be lighter, stronger, and more functional than ever before, with new capabilities being added all the time. it’s important to remember that every patient is different—and every prosthetic is customized according to that patient’s specific needs. Some people may not even think of it, but there is a lot of hard work that goes into creating high-quality prosthetics for amputees.