Beyond Belief Archive The 23cm long nail was found inside the mummy's (inset) knee

Researchers during a routine DNA test on a male Egyptian have made an astonishing discovery after finding a 23cm iron orthopaedic screw inside his knee.



The mummy is thought to have died between the 16th and 11 century BC and the pin is held in place by organic resin, similar to modern bone cement.



Medical experts were so amazed by this discovery they drilled through the bone to allow access for an arthroscopic camera to take a closer look.



This confirmed what they believed was impossible – that this operation was performed over 3,000 years ago.

Beyond Belief Archive The mummy is believed to have had knee surgery performed around 11th century BC

Beyond Belief Archive The mummy is more than 3,000 years old

Not only were the researchers astonished that the pin is ancient, but the highly advanced design had the visiting surgeons in awe.



"The pin is made with some of the same designs we use today to get good stabilisation of the bone," said Dr. Richard Jackson, an orthopeadic surgeon from Brigham Young University.



Apparently, the ancient Egyptian doctors knew how to use the flanges on a screw to stabilise the rotation of the leg.





Beyond Belief Archive The ancient Egyptians seemed to know how to use flanges on a screw