AMPUTATION AND PROSTHESIS OF THE BIG TOE IN ANCIENT EGYPT
Press Release from The Lancet

LONDON, December 22, Graphic News:  Pathological research of human remains in the cemetery of the capital of ancient Egypt suggests that ancient Egyptians were the pioneers of amputation and prosthetic surgery, conclude investigators in a study published in this weekÕs issue of The Lancet.

Andreas Nerlich and colleagues from Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany, investigated the mummified remains of a woman aged about 50-55 years who died between 1550 and 700 BC. Close examination revealed that her right big toe had been amputated during her lifetime, and replaced with a functional wooden prosthesis; previous research has suggested that prostheses were used only to prepare mummies for the afterlife.

Andreas Nerlich comments: ÒTheses observations provide compelling evidence that the surgical expertise to carry out toe, and possibly other amputations, sometimes followed by prosthetic replacement, was present in Egypt during this period. The big toe ususally bears about 40 percent of walking weight and its replacement is, therefore, of certain importance to the userÕs physical integrity. The loss of this digit results in a transfer of weight to the end of the first metatarsal, resulting in instability while standing and in limping when attempting to run. Use of a prosthesis would have solved these problems.Ó
/ENDS

Source: The Lancet
Contact: Professor Andreas Nerlich, Department of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
Tel: +49 89 5160 4060
Fax: +49 89 5160 4014
email: Andreas.Nerlich@Irz.uni.muenchen.de