Becoming whole again: How prosthetics shape the human experience
Abstract: As long as humans have existed, the possibility of limb loss has accompanied them. Absent the ability to grow these appendages back, a person was left stricken for life—the remainder of which was often terribly short. This begged the invention of replacement parts for the unfortunate. Whether functional or cosmetic, prosthetics predate the Common Era, demonstrating a long, beneficial, and currently prospering area of medical care. A woman in Cairo, Egypt, lost a part of herself between 950 and 700 BCE. This inspired the earliest known prosthetic. As human technology is often wont, this early prosthetic was as humble as it comes: a right great toe. As is likely gleaned from above, the primary driver of prosthetics advancement was warfare. The Civil War in particular drove prosthetics use owing to the increased availability to purchase limbs through federal government subsidy. This trend continued with the establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs and its role in medical care in every major conflict since the establishment of the National Home. Loss of a limb affects all aspects of an individual’s life and the new physical disability causes psychological and psychosocial problems.11 The amputee, from the onset of the loss of limb to return to normal life in the community, is beset with doubts and fears. The first use of a prosthetic is dated back to the Common Era. Since then, there have been many advancements due to research and technology. Since the late 20th century, the military has created processes to help decrease the number of amputations caused by warfare.