“Sauerbruch arm”, a reconstruction of the articial lower and upper arm according to Dr Ferdinand Sauerbruch

In 1915, the surgeon Ferdinand Sauerbruch achieved a major breakthrough in the field of artificial arms with the Sauerbruch arm named after him. The Sauerbruch arm enabled the hands to be used with the help of the muscles of the upper arm. To begin with, a tunnel had to be made through the upper arm muscle with an ivory pin running through it. Tensing the muscle raised the pin and closed the fingers.