HISTORY AND THE PRESENT TIME EXTERNAL PROSTHESIS OF THE UPPER EXTREMITIES

The history of prosthetics dates back to ancient times and is closely related to military operations. It was during armed conflicts that the frequency of injuries and loss of limbs increased, which as a result stimulated the development of restorative technologies. Over the centuries, prostheses have been improved and acquired new features and appearance, however, as in the past and now, the functional capabilities of prostheses are a reflection of the existing knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the limbs. The first prostheses, which today are valuable exhibits in various museums of the world, only hid anatomical defects, they were made of available, but not always light materials, and were most often wooden. Over time, the improvement of fastening and the addition of metal parts allowed not only to masking of defects but also to performing of the simplest movements, such as grabbing and lifting objects. The First, and later the Second World War significantly accelerated the development of prosthetics. Progress is associated with two important points: the discovery of antibiotics and the improvement of the amputation technique. However, the history of prosthetics until the end of the 19th century. It is characterized by the efforts of individual doctors, technicians, inventors, and the disabled themselves to some extent to fill the function of the lost limb. In medical science, every great discovery has the foundation of numerous attempts and acquired knowledge. In 2010, a multifaceted approach made it possible to create a new type of prosthetics – bionic. Bionic devices work through electrical impulses transmitted directly from the user’s muscles, reproducing a wide variety of movements. In connection with the war in Ukraine, the number of upper limb amputations has increased in recent years, which requires thorough knowledge of the anatomical and functional features of stumps of the upper limbs and improvement of the technological processes of manufacturing finger, forearm, and shoulder prostheses. The first bionic hand prosthesis was installed at the Nezlamni National Rehabilitation Center of the First Medical Association of Lviv. Thanks to special sensors, the bionic hand prosthesis can reproduce normal movements. Analyzing the history of the formation of upper limb prostheses, it is expected that the war in Ukraine will lead to the rapid development of prosthetics in the whole world.