Abstract
Amputation is one of the earliest recorded operative procedures in the history of mankind. There is evidence that
amputations were preformed as early as the Neolithic era.
Hammurabi, King of Babylon (1792-1750 B.C.), dictated the
use of amputation as a punishment for offenders, including
surgeons who killed or blinded their patients during treatment (1). A few cultures still use amputation as a punishment
today, mainly for thieves. The most important year in the
history of amputation was probably 1338, the year in which
gunpowder was introduced. Subsequently, surgery evolved
along with the history of war, and military surgeons led the
way in improving surgical techniques and perioperative care.