Evidence of Amputation as Medical Treatment in Ancient Egypt

    Authors

    T. L. Dupras; L. J. Williams; M. De Meyer; C. Peeters; D. Depraetere; B. Vanthuyne;H. Willems

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Int. J. Osteoarchaeol.

    Keywords

    Egypt; Dayr al-Barsha; amputation; trauma; diabetes; leprosy; prosthesis; medicine & surgery; IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS; DIABETES-MELLITUS; LEPROSY; PROSTHESIS; RISK; TOE; Anthropology; Archaeology

    Abstract

    The use of surgical techniques in ancient Egyptian medicine has only been suggested indirectly through ancient medical texts and iconography, and there is no evidence of amputation as a means of therapeutic medical treatment. This paper presents four cases of amputation from the archaeological site of Dayr al-Barsha, Egypt. Two of the cases (dated to the First Intermediate and Middle Kingdom periods, respectively) are from individuals that display bilateral amputations of the feet, one through the metatarso-phalangeal joints, the other a transmetatarsal amputation. The exact reason for the amputation, perhaps from trauma or disease, is unknown. The particular healing patterns of the distal ends of the amputations suggest these individuals used foot binding or prosthetic devices. Another case represents a healed amputation of the left ulna near the elbow, dated to the Old Kingdom. The final case represents a perimortem amputation of the distal end of the right humerus. The exact date of this individual is unknown, but most likely pertains to the Old Kingdom or First Intermediate period. This individual seems to have suffered a traumatic incident shortly before death, sustaining many fractures, including a butterfly fracture on the right humerus. Several cut marks were identified on top of the butterfly fracture, indicating amputation of the arm at this point. All four cases support the hypothesis that the ancient Egyptians did use amputation as a therapeutic medical treatment for particular diseases or trauma. Copyright (C) 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

    Journal Title

    International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

    Volume

    20

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    405

    Last Page

    423

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000280880500004

    ISSN

    1047-482X

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