The History Of Prosthetics Explained

Summary

This video explores the rich history of prosthetics, emphasizing their significance beyond medical devices to emotional and cultural identity. From the earliest known prosthetic toe in ancient Egypt to the iron hands of Roman generals, the narrative illustrates the human quest for wholeness. It highlights key advancements like Ambroise Paré's hinged prosthetic limbs and the affordable Hanger limb for Civil War soldiers. The video concludes with modern innovations, hinting at a future where amputees can regain full functionality and identity through brain-controlled prosthetics and regenerative medicine.

Takeaways

• 🦿 The history of prosthetics is deeply intertwined with human identity and emotional comfort, emphasizing the desire to regain a sense of wholeness after limb loss.
• 👣 The earliest known prosthesis was a big toe replacement for an Egyptian noblewoman, highlighting the cultural significance of prosthetics beyond mere functionality.
• ⚔️ In ancient Rome, General Marcus Sergius continued his military career with an iron hand, demonstrating the early use of prosthetics to maintain one's identity and role in society.
• 🛡️ Iron hands were used by knights during the Middle Ages, serving more as a cultural and personal tool to hide disfigurement and retain identity rather than for practical use.
• 🏴‍☠️ Contrary to popular fiction, wooden pegs and hook hands were not common among pirates due to the lack of skilled surgeons on ships.
• 🔗 The development of prosthetics was slow, with iron hands, wooden pegs, and hook hands being used for thousands of years until significant advancements were made in the 16th century.
• 🔗 Dr. Ambroise Paré's hinged prosthetic hand and leg with a locking knee joint in the 16th century allowed for more natural movement and sitting positions.
• 🦿 The Hanger limb, invented by James Hanger in 1861, was a major advancement in prosthetics due to its affordability, making it accessible to many Civil War amputees.
• 🧠 Modern prosthetics have seen innovations such as brain-controlled limbs and the ability for patients to feel with their prosthetic, aiming to restore a sense of wholeness and identity.
• 🌟 The future of prosthetics is promising, with ongoing research focusing on improving the lives of amputees, potentially leading to a time when amputations are no longer a significant impediment to one's life.

Q & A

What is the significance of prosthetics beyond being a medical device?

Prosthetics are significant beyond their medical utility as they also complete a wearer's sense of wholeness and provide emotional comfort, playing a crucial role in the wearer's identity and well-being.

What is the earliest known prosthetic and its cultural importance?

The earliest known prosthetic is a big toe belonging to an Egyptian noblewoman from around 3000 years ago. Culturally, the big toe was important in Egyptian society due to the tradition of wearing sandals.

How did General Marcus Sergius of ancient Rome use a prosthetic?

General Marcus Sergius used an iron hand to continue his military career after losing his right hand in battle, allowing him to hold a sword and shield, and maintain his identity as a general.

Why were iron hands used by knights during the Middle Ages?

Knights used iron hands to carry a shield and primarily to hide their disfigurement, allowing them to retain their identity as warriors, although they were a luxury only affordable by the wealthy.

What were the common prosthetic alternatives for those who could not afford iron hands?

Peasants and those who could not afford iron hands often had to make do with wooden peg legs and hook hands, which were more accessible but not as common as popular culture might suggest.

How did the advancement of prosthetics progress from the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages?

The advancement of prosthetics was slow, with iron hands, wooden pegs, and hook hands being used for thousands of years from the Roman Empire to the end of the Middle Ages, indicating a gradual pace of medical progress in this area.

What significant contribution did Ambroise Paré make to the field of prosthetics in the 16th century?

Ambroise Paré invented the hinged prosthetic hand and a leg with a locking knee joint in the 16th century, allowing for more natural movement and improved functionality for the wearer.

What innovation did James Hanger introduce with his prosthetic limb during the American Civil War?

James Hanger, an amputee from the American Civil War, invented the Hanger limb, which was noiseless and affordable, making it accessible to tens of thousands of soldiers who lost their legs during the war.

How did Ysidro Martinez revolutionize prosthetics in the 1970s?

Ysidro Martinez developed a low-limb prosthesis in the 1970s that focused on gait and reducing friction rather than replicating human motion, marking a significant shift in prosthetic design.

What are some of the current advancements in prosthetics that aim to improve the lives of amputees?

Current advancements in prosthetics include brain-controlled artificial limbs, the ability for patients to feel with their prosthetic limbs, and research into regrowing limbs, aiming to restore a sense of wholeness and identity for amputees.

Outlines

00:00

🦿 The Evolution of Prosthetics: From Ancient Egypt to Modern Innovations

The paragraph delves into the historical significance of prosthetics, emphasizing their role in restoring not just physical function but also emotional and cultural identity. It begins with the oldest known prosthetic, a big toe from ancient Egypt, highlighting the cultural importance of even minor body parts. The narrative then shifts to ancient Rome, where General Marcus Sergius' iron hand allowed him to maintain his warrior identity despite his disability. The use of iron hands continued through the Middle Ages, primarily among the wealthy, while commoners relied on crutches. The paragraph also dispels the myth of pirates commonly using peg legs and hook hands, noting the rarity due to the scarcity of skilled surgeons aboard ships. The slow advancement of prosthetics is underscored by the long use of basic designs until the 16th century when Ambroise Paré introduced hinged hands and legs with locking joints. The paragraph concludes with the 19th-century innovation of the Hanger limb, which, through affordability, became accessible to many Civil War amputees, and the founding of Hanger Incorporated, a company still producing prosthetics today.

05:01

🚀 Modern Breakthroughs in Prosthetics: Towards Seamless Integration

This paragraph outlines the significant leap in prosthetic technology with Ysidro Martinez's low-limb prosthesis in the 1970s, which focused on gait and reducing friction rather than mimicking natural motion. It sets the stage for contemporary advancements where scientists are exploring brain-controlled prosthetics, sensory feedback for amputees, and the possibility of limb regeneration. The paragraph paints an optimistic future where amputations may no longer be a lifelong disability, and individuals can maintain their sense of wholeness and identity. It ends with a call to action for viewers to subscribe for upcoming videos, hinting at the next topic on the historical Tulip Mania.

Keywords

💡Prosthesis

A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, such as a limb or an organ. In the context of the video, it's not just a medical device but also a means to restore a person's sense of wholeness and provide emotional comfort. The video highlights the historical significance of prosthetics, showing how they have evolved from simple toe replacements to complex, modern devices that can mimic natural body functions.

💡Egyptian Noblewoman's Toe

This refers to the earliest known prosthesis, a big toe made for an Egyptian noblewoman around 3000 years ago. The video uses this example to illustrate the cultural importance of prosthetics, as the big toe was essential for wearing sandals, a significant tradition in Egyptian society. This early prosthetic toe underscores the historical roots of prosthetics as tools for both function and identity.

💡General Marcus Sergius

General Marcus Sergius was a Roman general who lost his right hand during the Second Punic War. Despite this, he continued to serve in battles by having an iron hand fashioned for him. His story in the video exemplifies the determination of individuals to maintain their roles and identities in the face of physical loss, and how prosthetics can enable them to do so.

💡Iron Hand

An iron hand was a type of prosthetic used by Roman generals and later by knights during the Middle Ages. The video explains that these prosthetics were not just for functionality but also served as a means to conceal disfigurement and maintain social status. The iron hand represents the cultural and personal significance of prosthetics throughout history.

💡Peg Leg and Hook Hand

These terms refer to wooden artificial legs and hook-shaped hands, respectively. While popularly associated with pirates, the video clarifies that these prosthetics were not as common as fiction suggests. The script points out the practical challenges of obtaining such prosthetics, such as the need for a surgeon to properly amputate the limb, which was not always available, especially on ships.

💡Ambroise Paré

Ambroise Paré was a 16th-century doctor who made significant advancements in prosthetics by inventing the hinged prosthetic hand and a leg with a locking knee joint. These innovations allowed for more natural movement and sitting positions, as described in the video. Paré's work is highlighted as a major milestone in the evolution of prosthetics, showing how medical advancements can improve the quality of life for amputees.

💡Hinged Prosthetic

A hinged prosthetic, as invented by Ambroise Paré, is a type of prosthetic limb that uses hinges to allow for bending at the knee or elbow. This innovation is showcased in the video as a significant step forward in prosthetics, enabling wearers to perform everyday tasks more naturally and with greater ease.

💡James Hanger

James Hanger was the first amputee of the American Civil War and the inventor of the Hanger limb, a prosthetic leg that was affordable and quiet. The video emphasizes the impact of his invention, as it made prosthetics accessible to thousands of soldiers who had lost limbs during the war. Hanger's story exemplifies the intersection of personal experience, innovation, and social impact in the field of prosthetics.

💡Ysidro Martinez

Ysidro Martinez was an inventor who, in the 1970s, developed a revolutionary low-limb prosthesis. His design focused on gait and reducing friction rather than replicating natural body motions. The video highlights Martinez's work as a turning point in prosthetic design, paving the way for more efficient and comfortable prosthetics.

💡Brain-Controlled Prosthetic

A brain-controlled prosthetic is a type of artificial limb that can be controlled by the user's thoughts, as mentioned in the video's展望未来. This technology represents the cutting edge of prosthetics, aiming to restore a greater sense of control and natural movement to amputees. The video suggests that such advancements could significantly improve the lives of those with limb loss.

💡Tulip Mania

While not directly related to prosthetics, 'Tulip Mania' is mentioned at the end of the video as a teaser for the next video topic. It refers to the first recorded speculative bubble for tulip contracts in 17th-century Holland, where contract prices for some bulbs were so high that they were compared to the value of a house. This brief mention serves as a transition and a hook to engage viewers with upcoming content.

Highlights

A prosthesis is not just a medical device but also a means to complete a wearer's sense of wholeness and provide emotional comfort.

The history of prosthetics is intertwined with human struggle to regain lost wholeness and identity.

The earliest known prosthesis is a big toe from an Egyptian noblewoman, highlighting the cultural importance of prosthetics.

Ancient Roman General Marcus Sergius used an iron hand to continue his military career, showcasing the functional aspect of prosthetics.

Iron hands were used by knights in the Middle Ages, serving both practical and cultural purposes.

Peasants, lacking access to iron prosthetics, often used crutches, indicating the class-based availability of prosthetics.

Wooden pegs and hook hands, though popular in fiction, were not commonly used by pirates due to the scarcity of skilled surgeons.

The slow advancement of prosthetics from the Roman Empire to the Middle Ages reflects the limited medical progress in this field.

Ambroise Paré in the 16th century invented the hinged prosthetic hand and leg with a locking knee joint, a significant innovation.

Paré's inventions are still found in modern prosthetics, demonstrating their lasting impact.

Improvements in prosthetics were incremental, with advancements like lightweight aluminum and suction attachment.

The Hanger limb in 1861, invented by James Hanger, was a major advancement in affordability and accessibility for amputees.

Ysidro Martinez in the 1970s revolutionized prosthetics by focusing on gait and reducing friction, rather than replicating human motion.

Current research in prosthetics aims to improve amputees' quality of life through brain-controlled limbs and sensory feedback.

The future of prosthetics may include regrowing limbs, offering hope for a future where amputations are only a temporary setback.

The video concludes with a teaser for the next topic, Tulip Mania, hinting at upcoming educational content.

Transcripts

A prosthesis is much more than a medical device, it also completes a wearer’s sense of wholeness,

it gives emotional comfort. And so the history of prosthetics isn’t just about the advancement

about medical science, it’s a story of human beings who miss an essential part of their

self. It is the story of human beings struggling to regain a wholeness they have tragically lost.

The earliest known prosthesis is not a leg, arm, or even a fake eye. It’s a toe. A big

toe, beloningen to an egyptian noblewoman living around 3.000 years ago. Now, this may

seem odd at first. A person can technically live without a big toe. But to Egyptian society

at the time, your big toe was culturally important. To egyptians, wearing sandals was an important

tradition, important enough to warrant the construction of this early prosthetic. This

big toe shows that a prosthetic is as much about function as identity.

For the next big revolution in prosthetics, we have to go to ancient Rome, during the

Second Punic War. General Marcus Sergius lost his right hand on the battlefield. This would

generally mean you’re unable to enter another battle, as he needed two hands to hold a sword

and shield. But he instead had an iron hand fashioned for him, so he could still hold

up his shield, so he could still perform his function, so he kept his identity as a general.

With his prosthetic, Marcus Sergius would continue to serve in a long military career.

Iron hands, such as the one the roman general wore, would continue to be used for thousands

of years, up until the late middle ages. Knights who lost their hand would often purchase an

iron prosthetic. It could be attached to the armour or to the limb with leather straps

and were handcrafted to fit the individual wearer. Usually knights employed the same

blacksmith for their armour as for their prosthetic. While these hands could be used to carry a

shield, their main purpose was to hide the fact a person was disfigured. It was much

more a personal and cultural tool, rather than a practical one. It allowed the wearer

to retain his identity as a knight and warrior.

But such Iron prosthetics were only for the wealthy, peasants had to do with crutches.

But outside the battlefield, there was the wooden peg and a hook hand. Yes. They are

real. While fiction has made them the staple of pirates, and sure some pirate amputees

probably did have them, the were actually not all that common. To attach such peg you

would need a surgeon who would be able to cut the limb properly. But surgeons were uncommon

on ships. So the vast majority of pirates did not have hook hands or peg legs.

But let’s consider the fact that iron hands, wooden pegs, and hooks hands were used for

thousands of years, that they were used from the Roman Empire all the way to the end of

the Middle Ages, showing just how slowly medicine progressed. Unlike amputations (see my video

on that by pressing the link in the top-right corner), unlike amputations, where advancements

were made incrementally, prosthetics advanced far slower. The next major advances would

come with a doctor named Ambroise Paré in the 16th century. He created the hinged prosthetic

hand and a leg with a locking knee joint. This allowed the wearer to bend their knee

and elbow, allowing them to sit normally. If you wanted to stand up again, you could

lock the knee and arm in place so it wouldn’t bend anymore, allowing you to walk more normally.

These were invented in the 16th century. But what is shocking is that this invention is

still common in modern prosthetics, even though they were invented nearly 500 years ago. Up

to modern day, these inventions saw only small improvements. Although this is not to say

that the advancements were negligible, improvements such as a prosthetic attached through suction,

aluminum prosthetic so the wearer wouldn’t have to drag a heavy metal leg or arm around,

and the most amazing of them all: a hand which could be locked into different positions to

allow the user to hold objects in their prosthetic hand, such as a fork for eating.

But it would take until 1861 for the next major advancement: The Hanger limb, invented

by the first amputee of the United States’ civil war, James Hanger. James’ prosthetic

limb was noiseless but very similar to the one of Ambroise Pare. What made this leg so

different was its affordability. This is the first prosthetic leg which was available to

tens of thousands of US soldiers who lost their leg during the Civil War. James Hanger

even founded a company which produces prosthetic limbs to this day, named Hanger Incorporated.

And while modern medicine was up and coming and advanced the field of amputations tremendously,

prosthetics did not see much improvement until finally in the 1970’s, inventor Ysidro Martinez

made a huge impact on the history of prosthetics, when he developed a low-limb prosthesis. His

prosthesis was revolutionary because it’s the first which did not try to replicate the

motions of the human body. Instead, his artificial limb focusses on gait, or walking pattern,

and reducing friction.

And this is where history meets today. The story of creating artificial limbs is far

from over. Scientists today are still working on improving the lives of amputees. From controlling

the artificial limb with your brain, to allowing the patient to feel with their prosthetic

limb, to regrowing the limb all-together. It really does appear that amputations will

no longer be a problem in the future, that people will be able to feel as though they

are still whole, where a person’s sense of identity is no longer impaired, a future

where losing a limb will be a temporary loss and people can keep living life to their fullest.

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