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2500 BCE
An intricately-crafted toe, that includes a carved-out toenail, discovered in a tomb in Sheikh ‘Abd el-Qurna, in Egypt.
The earliest prosthetists emerged from mankind’s physical and spiritual need for functional and cosmetic wholeness in response to limb loss in battle, an accident or a congenital absence. Evidence exists of prosthetic limbs being applied as far back as 2500 BC. -
1500
Early World Designs
Worldwide designers were producing artificial body parts as early as the 1500's, however, the field of prosthetics did not advance in the United States until the 1800's. Key drivers were deadlier bullets and funding from the government. -
Artificial Leg Invented in America
The Artificial Leg was Invented by Benjamin Franklin Palmer of Meredith, New Hampshire. His artificial leg was created using springs and metal tendons, allowing for bending and flexibility. On November 4, 1846, Palmer received patent number 4,834 for the artificial leg. Imagine for a moment being the patient retiring his 'peg-leg" for the new and improved artificial leg. -
The Confederate War and implications of the Minie Ball
More than 30,000 Union soldiers and 40,000 Confederate soldiers lost limbs fighting battles between 1861 and 1865. The soft lead of the minié ball caused the ball to flatten out upon hitting its target, and when the target was a human body, the bullet shattered bones and destroyed tissue in catastrophic ways. The increasingly grisly damage of the minie ball led to the high number of amputations performed at Civil War hospitals. -
Birth Of An Industry
Civil War–Confederate soldier James Edward Hanger lost his leg above the knee to a cannon ball. He was fitted with a wooden peg leg but it was cumbersome. He designed and built a lightweight leg from whittled barrel staves. The leg had hinges at the knee and foot, which helped him sit more comfortably and to walk with a more natural gait. Hanger won the contract to make limbs for Confederate veterans. The company he founded–Hanger, Inc. remains a key player in prosthetics and orthotics today. -
World War II Era Prosthetics
Prosthetics fabrication in the United States remained largely unchanged through WWII. During that time period, an amputee typically received a temporary artificial limb when he or she left the service and was referred to the Veterans Administration for a permanent limb. -
Standards and Practitioner Education
In 1948, the formation of the American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) set minimum standards for practitioner education and experience and testing their clinical knowledge. In 1951, the first certification exam was held with 51 persons attaining certification. Created ethic committee, continuing education, development of O&P programs, required Associates Degree in 1973 in order to sit for exam, Bachelor Degree in 1986. -
Innovation Explosion
The large number of American casualties in World War II and the polio epidemic of the 1950s greatly increased the need for orthotic and prosthetic care in America and with it the need for formalized education programs and scientific research. An explosion of innovation followed, accompanied by creation of university-based orthotic and prosthetic training programs. -
NYU Awards First Bachelor of Science Degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics
On June 9, 1965, NY University conferred two Bachelor of Science degrees in P&O—the first such degrees to be awarded in the history of the University and in the history of these fields. On this day, Hugh Panton (an amputee) and Ivan Dillee (created coursework for the program) became the first two of the twenty-five undergraduates to complete the four-year course of study. With their newly awarded degrees, these men set off to be pioneers of a new approach and attitude toward their profession. -
American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists Established
In 1970, the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists was established to further the scientific and educational attainments of O&P practitioners who are certified by ABC. The goal is to advance standards of patient care through education, literature, research, advocacy and collaboration. -
First Female Orthotist and Prosthetist in the US
Tina Hittenberger, CO(E), is a trailblazer for women in O&P. She became a Certified Orthotist in 1975 when there weren’t many women in the profession. In fact, she is the third woman to be certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics (ABC). -
Advancements in the 1990's
Since the earliest prostheses, reproducing the complexities of the human knee has been a major challenge. The first knees that used a computer chip to control their swing were introduced in the 1990s; the microprocessor controls the speed and ease of the knee swing, as well as the stability of the knee joint when it’s stationary. Sensors provide input to the prosthetic knee so it can know which stage of the gait it’s in and adapt to different situations. -
Advancements in 21st Century
The Bartlett Tendon Universal Knee was invented by Brian Bartlett, a professional skier who lost his leg at 24. In 2007 Bartlett got a call from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. The US military wanted to test his knee on some active-duty soldiers. In 2009, amputee soldiers got their first BTK production unit. Since then, Bartlett has worked regularly with active soldiers and veterans. -
2020 Statistics in O&P Profession
Employment of O&P by state as of May 2020. The states with the highest employment level in O&P are: Texas 1060, California 950, Ohio 750, Pennsylvania 500, Michigan 480. Work in the P&O industry is continually evolving as new material and new technologies are learned. Hanger continues to be the largest domestic provider of P&O with over 00 clinics nationwide. Prosthetics of the Future Will Mesh Body, Mind, Machine.