Prosthetist’s Work Featured in Grey’s Anatomy

Erik Schaffer, CP, owner and president of A Step Ahead Prosthetics, headquartered in Hicksville, New York, has created a realistic-looking, high-heeled transfemoral prosthesis for ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy character Dr. Arizona Robbins, played by actress Jessica Capshaw. Robbins had her left leg amputated in the season premiere episode “Going Going Gone,” and the producers wanted a prosthetic leg Capshaw could walk and stand in, giving her the appearance of having a transfemoral amputation, according to A Step Ahead Prosthetics.

Capshaw models the prop transfemoral prosthesis created by Schaffer.

A Step Ahead Prosthetics designed and built a specialized prop leg with a harness allowing it to be worn by a non-amputee. However, in order to give it the appearance of a real prosthesis, it was built from a cast of Capshaw’s upper thigh. Technicians used actual prosthetic components to create the prosthesis then covered it with a silicone skin cover matching Capshaw’s skin tones. With some digital editing, the illusion of Capshaw being an amputee is complete. The finished prop was personally flown to the Grey’s Anatomy set in Los Angeles, California by A Step Ahead’s Program Director, Amy Palmiero-Winters, who also trained Capshaw in its use.