[Friedrich von Esmarch--surgeon, one career].

Friedrich von Esmarch was born in 1823 in Germany and he is one of the greatest surgeons of the Germany of that time. Fridrich von Esmarch introduced the Esmarch tourniquet, which enables operative field bloodless. This revolutionary innovation is still present in the orthopaedic surgery all around world, as well as for the first line hemostasis. Beside this, Esmarch also improves others fields of surgery: immobilizations, methods of antiseptic surgery, modified Esmarch mask for anesthesia. He joined few wars and had a rang surgeon-general. Although his experience was primary from the trauma, he also introduced the training courses of the First aid for the ordinary people, making medicine of that time more modern and efficient

Free fibula and corticocancellous bone grafting for salvage of a war-injured forearm.

The treatment of a complex forearm injury inflicted by a wartime mine explosion is presented in this study. Apart from the soft tissue damage, a 4-part fracture of the radius and loss of 19 cm of the ulnar diaphysis were present along with lesions of the median and ulnar nerves. The radial pulse was intact. The first formal treatment of the wounding consisted of extensive soft tissue and bone debridement and external fixation of radius with an additional intramedullary K-wire. After wound closure was obtained, a free vascular fibula grafting of the ulna and corticocancellous bone grafting of the radius were performed. Bone union of both the radius and ulna was subsequently achieved and 9 years after the injury, the patient has full flexion and extension of the elbow, full pronation and 70% of supination. Motion of the wrist is limited because of an ulnar plus variant of the distal radioulnar joint. Hand function is still limited by chronic low-moderate median nerve palsy, but the ulnar nerve has recovered completely. The patient is able to pinch, has full finger extension and can make a fist. He is satisfied that he made the correct decision in not having an initial amputation for his injury.