Giovanni Battista MONTEGGIA1762–1815

for his activities. His understanding and develop- ment of the facet fusion technique, emphasis on achieving a sound arthrodesis even in the pres- ence of rigid internal fixation, refinements in the indications for and construction of the Milwaukee brace, and development of the concept of selected fusion for double curves are just a few of his noted contributions. As Paul Harrington once said: “John Moe was the father of modern-day treatment of scoliosis.” His challenging critiques, helpful advice, open-mindedness, willingness to try the new, and desire to teach and to educate were among his greatest attributes.

In 1964, after a national conference on man- agement of scoliosis at the University of Min- nesota, a society for the study and research of scoliosis was first proposed. John Moe was one of the founding members, and he was the first president of the Scoliosis Research Society when it held its initial meeting in 1966.

In 1974, Dr. Moe founded the Twin Cities Scoliosis Center, along with the John H. Moe Spine Fellowship Program, affiliated with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Univer- sity of Minnesota. Under his leadership, the center became a focus for tertiary spinal care, research, and education. Physicians from all over the world sought his advice and counsel and came to study with him. These accomplishments gave him the greatest pleasure. His generosity, support, promotion of others, and unselfish sharing of his substantial clinical experience were no doubt responsible for the tremendous number of arti- cles, textbooks, and research projects that emanated from the center.

John Moe received many honors throughout his productive career. He was a member of the American Orthopedic Association, and its presi- dent from 1971 through 1972, and was a member of the Canadian Orthopedic Association, the Clinical Orthopedic Society, la Société Interna- tionale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Trauma- tologie, the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, and the American College of Surgeons, to mention a few. He held honorary memberships in many national societies worldwide, and he par- ticularly treasured his friends and colleagues in South America, where he spent much time facil- itating the development of programs in scoliosis and spinal deformity. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Award of Merit from Northwestern University, the University of North Dakota Sioux Award, and the Regents Award from the Univer- sity of Minnesota.

After his retirement from active practice in 1980, Dr. Moe took increasing comfort in the love and support of his wife, Mary Lou. On April 2, 1988, John Howard Moe died of complications of a brain tumor. In addition to his wife, he was survived by a son and a daughter, a stepson, three stepdaughters, and a sister.

A quest for excellence; open-mindedness; total dedication to his patients; a Herculean work ethic;

a never-ending sense of compassion; and most importantly, a love of mankind—these are John Moe’s greatest legacies.

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Who’s Who in Orthopedics

Giovanni Battista MONTEGGIA

1762–1815

Monteggia was born at Lake Maggiore and studied at Milan. At first he was a surgical pathol- ogist; while performing an autopsy on a woman who had died of syphilis he had the misfortune to cut his finger and infected himself with the disease. Later he became a successful general surgeon and pleased one patient so much that he was given an annuity to keep his library up-to-date.

When he became professor of surgery at Milan

he published his lectures, which are remarkable

for the wide acquaintance with the work of his

contemporaries. He is particularly remembered

for his description of a fracture dislocation of the

forearm, which he described in the same year as

Colles described his fracture.