Apuntes biográficos y aportes a las ciencias del profesor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras / Biographical Notes and Contributions to Science by Professor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras

Resumen Introducción: El Doctor y profesor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras, constituye una de las figuras que despuntó desde los mismos inicios del triunfo de la Revolución Cubana en las ciencias ortopédicas con repercusión en las ciencias pedagógicas y en las ciencias de la cultura física y el deporte. Objetivo: Con estas premisas decidimos hacer un Plegable o Volante de fácil manejo para el personal de las ciencias médicas, paramédicas y muy especialmente para el personal que se relaciona con la especialidad de Ortopedia y Traumatología plasmándose los aportes a las ciencias. Materiales y método: Se realiza este trabajo de corte histórico mediante sus datos biográficos y teniendo en cuenta sus principales aportes como médico, pedagogo, científico, como directivo entre otros, creando un instrumento como material complementario avalados por sus más de cinco décadas dedicadas por entero a las ciencias médicas y pedagógicas. Resultados: Se creó un instrumento que estimula al estudio de esta figura con el propósito de valorar su trabajo en beneficio de la sociedad cubana y su contribución y aportes al desarrollo de la pedagogía, el deporte y la medicina, muy específicamente de la Ortopedia y Traumatología universal (AU).

Abstract Introduction: The Doctor and professor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras, constitutes one of the figures that stood out from the same beginnings of the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in the orthopedic sciences with repercussions in the pedagogic sciences and in the sciences of the physical culture and the sport. Objective: With these premises we decided to make a Foldable or Flyer of easy handling for the personnel of the medical and paramedical sciences and very especially for the personnel that is related to the specialty of Orthopedics and Traumatology being shaped the contributions to the sciences. Materials and method: This historical work is carried out by means of its biographical data and taking into account its main contributions as a doctor, pedagogue, scientist, as a manager among others, creating an instrument as a complementary material guaranteed by its more than five decades dedicated entirely to the medical and pedagogical sciences. Results: An instrument was created that stimulates the study of this figure with the purpose of valuing his work for the benefit of Cuban society and his contribution and contributions to the development of pedagogy, sports and medicine, very specifically of Orthopedics and Universal Traumatology (AU).

Historical Perspective: Thomas E. Whitesides, Jr.

: Dr. Thomas Whitesides was a pioneer in general orthopedics and spine surgery. He brought the anterior approach to the United States in the management of thoracolumbar trauma, a revolutionary step at the time. At Emory, he taught 100s of residents and fellows using the Socratic method. Dr. Whitesides remains a valuable consultant for complex spine cases to this day.

Dr. Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras, padre de la Ortopedia en Cuba. Homenaje en su 85 aniversario / Dr. Rodrigo Alvarez Cambras, father of Orthopedics in Cuba. Tribute in his 85th anniversary

El doctor y profesor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras constituye una de las figuras que despuntó desde los mismos inicios del triunfo de la Revolución Cubana en las ciencias ortopédicas con repercusión en las ciencias pedagógicas. El objetivo fue argumentar porqué se considera al ilustre profesor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras, el padre de la Ortopedia y la Traumatología en Cuba en el marco de sus 85 de aniversario. Se realizó este trabajo de corte histórico mediante sus datos biográficos y teniendo en cuenta sus principales aportes como médico, pedagogo, científico y directivo, avalados por sus más de cinco décadas dedicadas por entero a las ciencias médicas y pedagógicas. Se estimula al estudio de esta figura con el propósito de valorar su trabajo en beneficio de la sociedad cubana y su contribución al desarrollo de la medicina, específicamente de la Ortopedia y Traumatología universal (AU).

Doctor and professor Rodrigo Álvarez Cambras is one of the figures who exceled in the orthopedic and pedagogical sciences from the first moments after the triumph of the Revolution. The aim of this historic work is to sustain why the illustrious professor Rodrigo Alvarez Cambras is considered the father of Orthopedics and Traumatology in Cuba in the context of his 85th anniversary. The authors review his biographical data and his main contributions as doctor, professor, scientist, and executive, all this activities endorsed by more than five decades entirely devoted to the medical and pedagogic sciences. The study of this personality is promoted with the purpose of assessing his work in benefit of Cuban society and his contribution to the development of Medicine, especially to universal Orthopedics and Traumatology (AU).

Pioneer Female Orthopedic Surgeons as Role Models.

Maud Forrester-Brown in the United Kingdom (1921), Marika Daniilidou in Greece (1932), Ruth Jackson in the United States (1932), Loris Figgins in Australia (1957), and Evalina Burger in South Africa (1993) all chose to specialize in orthopedics. Although there are dynamic female leaders in orthopedic surgery, the field continues to present obstacles to women. Role models, mentors, and exposure to the field have been lacking for women. Although improvements have occurred in the past few decades, further changes are necessary to attract, develop, and retain qualified female candidates. [Orthopedics. 2020; 43(1):e8-e14.].

History Off-Hand: Bunnell's No-Man's Land.

Background: To date, it remains unclear what inspired Dr Sterling Bunnell to start using the typical World War I military term no-man's land in hand surgical context, only in 1948. To commemorate that Bunnell passed away 60 years ago on August 20, I report on my quest to clarify this. Methods: An extensive bibliography of Bunnell was made up by use of the McDowell Series of Plastic Surgery Indexes and cross-checked by use of a PubMed search. Bunnell's round-robin letters were searched for in the Sterling Bunnell Hand Surgery Archives of the California Pacific Medical Center Health Services Library in San Francisco, California. In addition, some of the second-generation hand surgeons were personally approached to try and trace the round-robin letters. Finally, the publications of the chiefs of the 9 hand surgical centers and 6 coworkers of Bunnell were checked for referrals to the term no-man's land. Results: Prior to 1948, no-man's land was not used in print in hand surgical context. Bunnell's nearness to the trenches during World War I appears not to have inspired him immediately to start using the term. The reconnaissance tunnels dug through the soil of the no man's land between the Allied and German trenches likely inspired him to replace a cut tendon through incisions proximal and distal to no-man's land. Conclusions: Bunnell must have associated his tendon grafting techniques to that of the World War I trenches and tunnels at some time between 1947 and 1948.

Karl Ludloff (1864-1945): An Inventive Orthopedic Surgeon, His Work and His Surgical Technique for the Correction of Hallux Valgus.

The purpose of this article is to summarize the work and pioneering achievements in the field of orthopedic surgery of the German orthopedic surgeon Karl Ludloff. Ludloff had an impact in the diagnostics, physical examination, orthopedic imaging, and orthopedic surgical technique of his era. He was a pioneer in the surgical treatment of dysplastic hip, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, and hallux valgus. His surgical technique for the correction of hallux valgus, initially stabilized with plaster of Paris, remained unpopular among other orthopedic surgeons for decades. In the 1990s, the advent and use of improved orthopedic materials for fixation attracted the interest of numerous orthopedic surgeons in the Ludloff osteotomy for its ability to correct the deformity in all 3 dimensions, its anatomic outcomes, and its low recurrence rate and patient satisfaction.

A History of Shoulder Instability in the Military: Where We Have Been and What We Have Learned.

Introduction: Shoulder instability is one of the most common pathologies seen by the orthopedic sports medicine surgeon. With a uniquely young, high-demand patient population in the U.S. Military, the incidence of shoulder instability is remarkably more common than the civilian population. As such, military orthopedic surgeons and sports medicine and shoulder specialists have developed a unique understanding and experience of shoulder instability. The historical advances of shoulder instability in the military have been instrumental in understanding the epidemiology, evaluation, pathology, treatment of first-time shoulder subluxations and dislocations, operative and non-operative treatment options, arthroscopic and open stabilization methods, management of the in-season athlete, treatment of combined and circumferential labral pathology, and associated pathology. Methods: The purpose of this article is to chronicle the experience of military orthopedic surgeons in treating shoulder instability. We discuss how this unique experience has led to a better understanding of the epidemiology and pathology of this condition and how we have adapted our clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Results: The historical contribution of U.S. Military orthopedics to the understanding of shoulder instability has been monumental. This article reviews the evolution of shoulder instability treatment and the understanding as it has evolved in the U.S. Military. It further elaborates on our understanding of the epidemiology of shoulder instability in the U.S. Military, with attention given to our incidence of 1.69 per 1000 person-years, approximately 20 times higher incidence than the general population. We discuss known risk factors for dislocation that contribute to this incidence, which are specific to military service. We address pathologic changes seen following a first-time instability event, including an analysis of labral injury and the role of these pathologic changes in recurrent instability. We also review our results from arthroscopic evaluation of first-time dislocations and compare the pathologic changes with those following a first-time subluxation. Evaluation of treatment outcomes is discussed, comparing operative and non-operative results as well as open and arthroscopic stabilization in the U.S. Military population and contact/collision athletes. Finally, we address how these results drive our current treatment algorithm. Discussion and Conclusion: The physical demands of military service result in a high rate of shoulder instability relative to the general population. For years military orthopedic surgeons have sought to better understand this pathology and learn how to optimally manage it so as to reduce this heavy burden of disease. This article discusses our experience with treating shoulder instability, provides an overview of the lessons learned, and provides a historical perspective for the evolution of shoulder instability understanding in the U.S. Military.

Person or system - What leads to surgical advances?

To understand the relationship between standardisation and originality in surgery, the contributions of three surgeons in the 20th century are analysed. The individual Arbuthnot Lane, the collectivist Robert Jones and the scientist Alexis Carrel changed the practice of orthopaedic surgery. It is argued that the factors influencing innovation are not binary but multifactorial and that advances in surgery occur when individual freedom is permitted within a system. It is concluded that innovation and standardisation in orthopaedic surgery need not conflict with each other.

Romuald Weglowski (1876-1935) - Orthopaedic Surgeon, Forgotten Pioneer of Limb Saving Tumour Surgery.

On May 16, 1914, The Lancet Journal published a paper by Romuald Weglowski, a Polish-born professor of Moscow University, entitled "Malignant tumours of bones: a new method in conservative operative treatment." The idea of biological resection presented in the paper consisted in thermocoagulation of the apparently cancerous part of a bone with a jet of steam. According to the author, dead bone rid of live malignant cells reconstructed itself quickly, which helped to preserve the functionality of the organ without considerable limitations. The events of the First World War, political changes in tsarist Russia and the recovery of independence by Poland greatly complicated Weglowski's professional career. We thought it would be interesting to present the life story of the great Polish surgeon in the context of his own method of bone cancer treatment, which without doubt marked the beginning of Polish orthopaedic oncology aimed at limb-saving surgery.

American Orthopaedic Surgeons in World War I.

On April 6, 1917, the United States declared war on Germany and entered what was then called the Great War. Among the first officers sent to Europe were 21 orthopaedic surgeons in the so-called First Goldthwait Unit. Prior to the war, orthopaedics had been a nonoperative "strap-and-buckle" specialty that dealt primarily with infections, congenital abnormalities, and posttraumatic deformity. The Great War changed all of that forever, creating a new surgical specialty with emphasis on acute treatment, prevention of deformity, restoration of function, and rehabilitation.

Louis-Léopold-Xavier-Édouard Ollier (1830-1900): An Innovative Orthopedic Surgeon.

Louis-Léopold-Xavier-Édouard Ollier (1830-1900) was a pioneer in orthopedics considered as the founder of modern orthopedic surgery. He was a skillful and experimenter surgeon. He invented many new surgical techniques in orthopedic surgery and many new surgical instruments. His most known discovery is Ollier's disease.

Spines of Steel: A Case of Surgical Enthusiasm in Cold War America.

Just as the prevalence of scoliosis began to decline precipitously after World War II, American orthopedic surgeon Dr. Paul R. Harrington devised a new, invasive surgical system whereby implantable prosthetic metal rods and hooks were used to straighten curved backs. By the 1970s, "Harrington rods" had become the gold standard of surgical scoliosis care in the United States, replacing more conventional methods of exercise, bracing, and casting. This article situates the success of Harrington rods within a much larger and historically longer debate about why, when compared to those in other nations, American surgeons appear to be "more aggressive" and "knife-happy." Using Harrington's papers and correspondence, I argue that patients played a vital role in the rise of spinal surgery. As such, this article examines not only how surgical enthusiasm has been historically measured, defined, and morally evaluated, but also how scoliosis became classified as a debility in need of surgical management.

Alexandros Zaoussis, MD, PhD (1923-2005): An Orthopedic Surgeon and Historian and His Contribution to the Establishment of Hip Surgery.

The purpose of our study was to summarize all the knowledge concerning the innovative pioneer in the field of orthopedic surgery and especially hip replacement, Alexandros Zaoussis (1923-2005). He was a pioneer in hip replacement, and he contributed to several fields of orthopedic surgery with his clinical work and his international publications. He was also an eminent historian of World War II and of the Greek Resistance to the Nazi occupation in which he played a significant part. A thorough study of texts, medical books, and reports in the field of history of medicine, together with a review of the available literature in PubMed, was undertaken. He was an eminent clinical director of orthopedics who had significant contribution in teaching, practicing, and expanding the horizons of orthopedic surgery in the 20th century. A thorough review of medical texts, books, and publications in the Greek academic press was undertaken to summarize his contributions and his turbulent life to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death.

Antoni marian gabryszewski as a pioneer of orthopaedics and rehabilitation in poland.

This article describes the work of Dr. Antoni Marian Gabryszewski, orthopaedic surgeon, associate professor at Lvov University, towards the development of orthopaedics and rehabilitation in Poland before World War I. It is based on archival materials, publications in medical journals and articles from the daily press of that time. The author presents little-known facts concerning Dr. Gabryszewski's occupational and academic activity and his work at the Surgery Dept. of Lvov University as well as his habilitation dissertation, regarded as the first attempt to position orthopaedics as distinct from surgery in Poland. The article also describes his long-term work at the private Orthopaedic Facility established in 1898 in Lvov which later incorporated the Zander Institute in 1908. The Zander Institute was the first in Galicia to offer exercise machines designed by Dr. Gustav Zander, imported from Stockholm and enjoying an extraordinary popularity in the world. Dr. Gabryszewski's practice as a spa doctor, which he pursued in Iwonicz Zdrój in the summer months, is also presented. Dr. A. Gabryszewski introduced comprehensive rehabilitation to the treatment of orthopaedic patients both at the Surgery Dept. of Lvov University and at his Orthopaedic Facility. He used therapeutic gymnastics (particularly mechanotherapy), therapeutic massage, physical therapy and orthopaedic aids. Analysis of the source materials leads to unequivocal conclusions attesting to Dr. A. Gabryszewski's pioneering role and significant contribution to the development of orthopaedics and rehabilitation in Poland.