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Prosthetic Legs Don't Need to Be Ugly

But What Do I Know?

By Aaron DennisPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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A quick history of amputation.

Amputation of a limb is one of the oldest medical techniques. In 1st century AD Rome, an encyclopedist and philosopher named Aulus Cornelius Celsus wrote of circular surgical amputation; a cut made all the way around the damaged limb. This technique was used all the way up to and beyond the American Civil War. Many soldiers, naturally, wanted a prosthetic limb for appearance and utility.

During the sixteenth century, Doctor Ambroise Paré made significant advances in amputation surgery. He also developed prosthetic limbs; he was the first to introduce a hinged prosthetic hand, and a leg with a locking knee joint.

Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote in 1863 that prosthetics were certainly important for mobility, but they were also important for amputees to feel normal in civilian society. According to Holmes, numerous Americans wondered during the war what would happen when they returned home missing a limb. “At an age when appearances are reality,” he wrote. “It becomes important to provide the cripple with a limb which shall be presentable in polite society, where misfortunes of a certain obtrusiveness may be pitied, but are never tolerated under the chandeliers.”

During the American Civil War, which saw the emergence of new and powerful weapons, many soldiers suffered injuries, which were treated by amputation. This led to a major advancement in artificial limb technology. George Jewett, James Edward Hanger, D. DeForrest Douglass, Benjamin Franklin Palmer, and Douglas Bly were praised by statements such as: “It is difficult to distinguish the artificial member from genuine flesh and blood.”

Does this look like a real leg?

For veterans with an arm amputation, no unnoticeable prosthetic existed. The best options were artificial arms with hooks, and many veterans with a missing arm chose an empty sleeve over a metal hook. Perhaps worse, prosthetic limbs didn't fix the emotional and psychological scars of amputation in a "manly society," wherein a whole and healthy body was praised; an injured body was pitied.

These are the legs of a sex doll.

Yes, you can buy just the legs, but bear with me. Those legs up there look a whole lot better than this leg, right?

Those silicone-covered, sex legs look a lot better than this leg, right?

They certainly look better than this leg!

Okay, that was just a peg leg, but here’s what I don’t understand. Sex dolls are supposed to be lifelike, so why can’t prosthetic limbs follow similar guidelines?

Now, I know, and trust me, I do know, sex dolls utilize a steel frame, and steel isn’t the best material for bone replacement; most replacement surgeries utilize titanium, but just follow me for a second—a silicone covered titanium leg screwed into the remaining bone.

This is just my own crappy drawing, but can you see how a titanium thread can be fused to the leg bone, allowing for a silicone-covered, titanium leg to be screwed, or unscrewed, from the fused thread? I did a ton of research before writing this article because I truly don’t understand why prosthetic limbs look so terrible.

I get that they’re designed for functionality, utility, but so are cars! With amputation being such an old medical technique, and with all the technological advancements we've seen throughout medical history, I am simply unable to wrap my brain around why modern, medical technology is still creating limbs, which so obviously appear artificial.

I am not an amputee. I can’t begin to imagine what those folks have to endure, but I gotta’ imagine they’d like to have an arm or leg that looks like an arm or a leg, and why the technology doesn’t exist is beyond me.

I went to HangerClinic, and their prosthetic leg page states the following:

The loss of a leg changes how you move through life. At Hanger Clinic, we can help restore your mobility by designing prosthetic leg solutions that combine our patented ComfortFlex® socket system with state-of-the-art prosthetic components from all the leading manufacturers.Hanger Clinic gives you access to the latest technologies and the most highly skilled prosthetists available anywhere. We partner with you and your healthcare team to create a custom prosthesis that will help you achieve your goals.

Well, that sounds great. I think it’s awesome that companies exist to help people who need new limbs, but look at these things.

This is the latest technology?

Sure, robots are cool, but I mean, c'mon...

Once more, I get that comfort and utility are the most important factors, but those factors don’t preclude sleek design.

It’s 2019, people. We need to stop worrying about cell phone technology and the quality of our digital pictures, which have not improved in 10 years; I don’t care what anyone says. Not to mention that art is subjective, and that’s why pictures haven’t replaced paintings, or black and white photographs.

I really think that by 2019 someone with a missing limb ought to be able to get something better than robot legs, but what do I know, right?

Hanger Clinic goes on to state:

There is an amazing technological revolution happening in prosthetics. As the recognized leader in state-of-the-art prosthetics for 155 years, we are proud to be part of it. Hanger Clinic partners with suppliers to design new products and clinical processes. We have also developed many innovations ourselves that provide greater comfort and mobility to people with limb loss, such as the patented ComfortFlex® socket system. Our nationwide team of lower limb specialists has undergone extensive socket design training led by renowned prosthetist Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP.Advanced materials and designs are restoring mobility to people of all ages and from every background. Whether you are challenged by illness, injury or accident, Hanger Clinic empowers your potential.

All I’m saying is that in a world where we replace knees and hips with titanium inserts, we can fuse titanium threads to a bone and screw on a great looking leg that’s practically indistinguishable from the real deal, but, hey, what do I know, right? I’m just some geeky writer behind a screen.

Thanks for reading another round of But What do I Know? You can read through other articles like this one on my What Do I Know tab. Check it out. I guarantee you, I’ll get you thinking.

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About the Creator

Aaron Dennis

Creator of the Lokians SciFi series, The Adventures of Larson and Garrett, The Dragon of Time series, and more.

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