The paper distinguishes between rehabilitation and the conferring of ability, limiting the application of rehabilitation methods to recovery of disablement due to trauma or disease. This can be achieved with the collaboration of specialists in the various branches of medicine; microsurgery, orthopaedics, physiotherapy, together with socio-psycho-biological aids. The Artificial Limb Center of the National Institute for Insurance against Occupational Diseases (INAIL) located at Vigorso di Budrio (Bologna) has been particularly successful in designing myoelectric and modular prostheses for patients who have undergone amputation of limbs, thus achieving functional, social and occupational rehabilitation. The concept of functional and anatomical disablement and personal injury on a forensic medicine basis is illustrated, as applicable in criminal and civil law, insurance and social security. Rehabilitation plays an important rôle since it reduces personal injury on a social and occupational level.