Thomas and at last the profession throughout the world became acquainted with his doctrine.
Thomas, overworked, died at the age of 57 on January 6, 1891. The manifestation of grief in Liverpool was astonishing. It was a testimony to
“his personal care in the service of his patients.”
No other pioneer contributed so much in estab- lishing the fundamental principles of orthopedic surgery.
References
1. Aitken D McC (1935) Hugh Owen Thomas. Oxford University Press, London, Humphrey Milford 2. Keith A (1919) Menders of the Maimed. Henry
Frowde, Oxford University Press, Hodder, Stoughton, Warwick Square, London, EC
3. McMurray TP (1935) Centenary Lecture on “The Life of Hugh Owen Thomas.” Liverpool Medical Chirurgical Journal vol XLIII, part 1:3–41 4. Thomas HO (1875) Diseases of the Hip, Knee, and
Ankle Joints. Liverpool, T. Dobb & Co
eight children, four boys and four girls. All of his brothers became surgeons and one sister married a surgeon. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas in 1927 and a Doc- torate of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical School in 1931. He pursued postgradu- ate training in surgery at the Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and became a fellow at the New York Orthopedic Dispensary and Hospital in 1934, finishing his orthopedic training in 1939.
During that time he married Carolyn Laura Bryan, also from Texas.
Following a tour of the orthopedic clinics in Europe, Dr. Thompson joined the staff at St.
Luke’s Hospital in 1935, at the invitation of Dr.
Mather Cleveland. His interests in orthopedic surgery were widespread. He wrote 41 medical manuscripts and was the author of nine medical motion pictures. Although his primary interests involved hip and spine surgery, his publications included articles on trauma and adult and pedi- atric reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Thompson’s most outstanding contribution to orthopedic surgery was the development, in 1950, of the hip prosthesis that bears his name.
This design became a prototype for many later prostheses, including the femoral component for the total hip replacement in use today.
A member of many societies, including the American Orthopedic Association and the Cana- dian Orthopedic Association, Dr. Thompson was president of the Russell Hibbs Society in 1950, president of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons in 1961, a founding member of the Hip Society, and vice president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons from 1966 to 1968.
Dr. Thompson became director of orthopedic surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital in New York City in 1961, succeeding Dr. David M. Bosworth. An excellent technical surgeon, he personally tutored his residents in the art and skills of surgery. He demanded the highest level of proficiency and would never accept less. Under his direction, the size and scope of the orthopedic service grew, making it one of the most outstanding services and residencies of the hospital.
Although he committed most of his time to orthopedic surgery, Dr. Thompson was a devoted sportsman with great interest in hunting and fishing, which provided an important diversion from his medical activities. He approached these hobbies with the same enthusiasm as he did his professional life, and was particularly interested 332
Who’s Who in Orthopedics
Frederick Roeck THOMPSON
1907–1983
Frederick Roeck Thompson, former director of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at St.
Luke’s Hospital Center in New York City, died on April 12, 1983. He was 75 years old.
Born in Galveston, Texas, in 1907, the son of James Edwin Thompson, professor of surgery at the University of Texas, Frederick was one of
Friedrich TRENDELENBURG
1844–1924
Friedrich Trendelenburg was born in Berlin, Germany, where his father was a professor of phi- losophy and his mother was a teacher. Instead of attending school, he was educated at home by his parents. When his family moved to Glasgow, Scotland, he continued his studies, and in 1863 began to study anatomy and embryology.
Between 1864 and 1866 he studied medicine in various clinics, finally being granted his medical degree by the University of Berlin. Such an edu- cational background was not unusual in those days and medical students commonly studied for various periods at different institutions. After serving the required period in the army as a mil- itary surgeon, Trendelenburg returned to Berlin and came under the influence of the greatest German surgeon of the period, Bernard Langen- beck. After what would be called a residency today, lasting from 1868 to 1874, Trendelenburg became a surgeon in an important Berlin hospi- tal. A few years later he became the professor of surgery in Rostock, Germany. His academic
Jules TINEL
1879–1952
Tinel was a French neurologist who wrote an excellent book on the effects of nerve injuries during the First World War, and from it one may judge how times have changed, for nerve suture is hardly mentioned. He had a research interest in the autonomic system, producing a thick volume on the subject; he was noted for the ingenuity of his apparatus, which was often constructed of Meccano.
He was born in Rouen, the fifth in a line of dis- tinguished doctors. His father was professor of anatomy at Rouen. Tinel studied in Paris. It was when he was mobilized for the war that he found himself in a neurological unit and was able to in the behavior of wildlife. An active member of several fish and game clubs in the north east, including the Camp Fire Club of America and the Anglers Club of New York City, he spent count- less hours studying the art of fly-fishing and participating in outdoor events with these organizations.
Probably his greatest attribute was an insatiable curiosity and the desire to develop new ideas.
This enthusiasm was transferred to the residents he trained, who respected him not only as their teacher, but as a person who supported and cared about their future careers. Dr. Thompson was sur- vived by his wife Carolyn and their three children.
study the long-term effects of severe nerve injury.
He gave the first account of paroxysmal hyper- tension due to phaeochromocytoma.
During the Second World War he had to leave the hospital; his family were interned, and one son was executed by the Gestapo because the family had helped to run an escape route.
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Who’s Who in Orthopedics
