Upper femur replacement, England, 1958-1965
The femur is the top part of the large leg bone which connects at the hip and the knee joints. The upper part of the femur forms the ‘ball’ for the ball and socket joint of the hip. This prosthesis is made from a type of plastic called polyethylene. The plastic is carved to fit the patient’s leg bone precisely. However, it is only used to support the existing bone structure in the leg and cannot hold any weight.
Object number:
1981-1713
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: orthopaedics
The branch of medicine concerned with the preservation and restoration of the muscular and skeletal systems in the body.
Glossary: prostheses
Artificial body parts, or materials inserted into tissue for functional, cosmetic, or therapeutic effect. Prostheses can be functional (artificial arms and legs), or cosmetic (artificial eye).
Glossary: femur
The thigh bone. It is the longest bone in the human body.
Glossary: artificial femur
A complete or partial replacement of the bone situated between the pelvis and knee. It is the largest and strongest bone in the body.