[Medical photography in orthopedics then and now--a historical overview]

An historical overview is given about the medical photography especially in orthopaedic surgery from the beginning until modern times. Orthopaedic surgeons early found out the advantage of this method for documentation of clinical cases. More and more photography was used from the end of the 19. century until now because of its remarkable advantages. In the last years three dimensional photographic measurement has established and is acknowledged to be useful in diagnosis and follow up of deformities, especially of scoliosis. Cinematographic methods for analysis of human movement are helpful tools for diagnosis and therapy of pathologic movement.