In medicine, a prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through trauma, disease, or congenital conditions. Prosthetics are intended to restore the normal functions of the missing body part. 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 iron in a prosthesis. The long and winding road to the computerized leg began about 1000 B.C. and has been evolving ever since.
The earliest example of a prosthesis ever discovered is not a leg, arm, or even a fake eye, it’s a toe. A big toe, belonging to a noblewoman, was found in Egypt and dated between 950-710 B.C. The Egyptians were the early pioneers of prosthetic technology, and it is believed that they wore the prosthetic limbs more for a sense of “wholeness” than function. By the Dark Ages, little advancement in prosthetics was made besides the hand hook and peg leg. Most of these prostheses were made/used to hide deformities or injuries sustained in battle. 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, with little attention to functionality. Outside of battle, only the wealthy were lucky enough to be fitted with a peg leg or hand hook for daily function. This was made by tradesmen which designed them and created them. By the Renaissance Era, new perspectives of art, science, and medicine ushered. During these period prostheses were generally made of iron, steel, copper, and wood. Various detailed records were kept that described these prostheses for example: a pair of advanced iron hands that could be manipulated by setting them with the natural hand and moved by relaxing a series of releases and springs while being suspended with leather straps or a bilateral upper extremity amputee who was able to remove his hat, open his purse, and sign his name. By the Mid to late 1500s Ambroise Paré was already considered the father of modern amputation surgery and prosthetic design. He invented an above-knee device that was a kneeling peg leg and foot prosthesis that had a fixed position, adjustable harness, knee lock control and other engineering features that are used in today’s devices. His work showed the first true understanding of how a prosthesis should function. By these time, leather, paper, and glue were used instead of heavy iron in the making of a prosthesis. These proved that the Renaissance was a rebirth in the history of prosthetics. Through the 17th to 19th centuries the first aluminum prosthesis was invented and the first nonlocking below-knee (BK) prosthesis was invented, which would later become the blueprint for current joint and corset devices. Nowadays, prostheses are much lighter, made of plastic, aluminum, and composite material to provide amputees with the most functional devices. In addition, patient-molded devices, the use of microchips and robotics are designed to return amputees to the lifestyle they were used to.
Prosthesis were used by different people through the eras, from poor people to rich people and from soldiers to thieves. Prostheses were used as a mean to ensure that man can not only have four limbs but that he can also have basic functionality or a more pleasing appearance. As time has passed prosthesis have become more realistic and are able to mimic the function of a natural limb more now than at any time before.
Prostheses have had a significant role in history because they are an artificial limb that replaces a missing body part. Which has helped so many people during the eras to perform not only ordinary, day-to-day activities such as basic tasks like eating, walking, and getting dressed but also to do their work. It also, provided them the means to stay independent and it gave them a more pleasing appearance.
Prosthesis represented the social and cultural environment by the different eras it was used. In ancient Egypt, we know that only the noble could afford their prosthesis which gives us an idea that the poor could not afford one. In the dark ages, we know that prostheses were used more to hide their deformities rather than using them to functionality. We know that only the wealthy were lucky to use a prosthesis in this era. By the Renaissance era, prostheses were more common, and more people could afford them. This is when the use of prosthesis was becoming more normal. Between the 17th and 19th century, prostheses were used by more for functionality rather than apparel. This were the centuries were prosthesis improved. Nowadays prostheses are used by all type of people and are more common.