[200 years orthopedics. Images from the past]

The term orthopaedics was first used by a French physician named Nicolas Andry in 1742. Since then the meaning of the term has changed dramatically. Starting as the planned title of a guidebook for parents it developed to become the name of a new medical discipline. During the 19th century orthopaedic surgery was dominated by private institutions, which were a privilege of the wealthy. Orthopaedic surgery as we know it in Germany today developed mostly from the so called "cripple asylums" (Krüppelheime). Their main objective was the treatment of infections of bones and joints, scoliosis and of hereditary diseases. Many of these orthopaedic diseases lost their importance due to prophylaxis and early diagnosis. The great improvements in the living conditions led to a change regarding the age of the patients and the diseases treated. Until world war II mostly children were treated by orthopaedic surgeons. After world war II orthopaedic surgeons have adjusted to the demographic change and have increasingly been treating elder patients. The development and the spread of prostheses display the increasing importance of age related illnesses.