[History of artificial limbs for the leg]

Following the development of prosthetics for the lower limb since the middle of the 18th century one will find very interesting similarities to modern prostheses. This becomes evident when looking at former knee and ankle joint mechanisms or socket designs. Also, the materials used for the prostheses underwent very interesting variations. In our paper we will describe the development of socket designs and several materials from the beginning of the 19th century. Several still obtainable books dealing with 200 years of prosthetics development, were reviewed. Charles White describes in the year 1761 a supramalleolar amputation using the flap technique and the specially built BK prostheses the socket. V. Brünninghausen describes in 1809 a socket made of tin sheet. It was built oval, as the normal transverse section of the thigh is. Stump adhesion was obtained when a shortly trimmed dog fur--panelling the socket and covering the stump--was attached like brushes end on end. A similar fitting was described by Heine in 1811, v. Dornblüth in 1831, and Mrs. Eichler in 1836. Hermann first mentioned the need of a perpendicular construction of prostheses. Parmelee developed in 1868 the first suction socket. The first tuber-enclosing socketdesign was made by Riedel in 1911. We will show documents from this time and will also show, that muscle-physiological aspects had a very important influence on socket designs.