Upper femur replacement, low molecular wright polyethyhene-alkathene, English, c. 1959

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.