Principles
History of Amputation
The amputation of limbs has always been considered a major operation and the most terrible of surgical operations. And nothing has changed today for affected patients. But advances in medicine have changed the situation dramatically.
Causes
Until the 19th century, epidemics such as leprosy and tuberculosis, war wounds, frost-bite, animal bites and gangrene ended in amputation.
Amputation
In earlier times, anaesthesia was unknown and there were few surgical instruments. The only tools available for amputation were a knife, a sharp amputation saw, various pincers, and a crowbar.
Large, red-hot plates of iron were used to stem the massive bleeding from the operation. When they were briefly applied to the stump they sealed the blood vessels. It wasn't until the 16th century that the blood vessels were tied off instead of being sealed with the iron plates.
After the amputation
Since only few patients actually survived amputation up to the end of the 19th century, the provision of prostheses was completely secondary and an extremely makeshift exception.
Prostheses for the thigh consisted of a wooden leg that was strapped to the thigh stump. Those with below-knee amputations bent their stump backwards and kneeled on a wooden leg that was strapped to the stump of the lower leg.
After the turn of the century, there were attempts to improve wound healing to form a residual limb that could bear a prosthesis and help the patient return to everyday life. However, provision with a prosthesis was still not a certainty.
Modern prostheses
Constant improvement in the provision of prostheses has led to an improvement in the quality of life for amputees. The transition from wooden leg to modular prosthetic components made of metal or plastic, the possibility of relieving pressure on the end of the residual limb in the prosthesis and the lower weight of the prostheses, has made handling easier and reduced the limitations for users.