Hippocratic bench

The Hippocratic bench or scamnum was a device invented by Hippocrates (c. 460 BC–380 BC), which used tension to aid in setting bones. It is a rudimentary form of the traction devices used in modern orthopedics, primarily designed for the reduction of dislocations and the setting of fractures, particularly those of the spine and long bones. It represented an early understanding of applying controlled force and counter-force to achieve anatomical realignment in a medical context. Despite its historical significance as an innovative tool for its time, the Hippocratic bench was a simple and often forceful device, lacking the precision and safety mechanisms of modern orthopedic equipment.