What is the Difference between Orthopaedics and Orthopedics?
- The words Orthopaedics and Orthopedics are used interchangeably, they imply the same, the speciality of Medicine dealing with the treatment of Bone and Joint Disorders
- “Orthopaedics” is used in a British context and “Orthopedics” from an American context
- Interestingly, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons use the word “OrthopAEdics” even though it’s american
- The word Orthopaedics was first used by French Physician, Nicholas Andry, and is derived from “Ortho”, which means ‘straight’ and “Paedics:, which means ‘children’.
- Interestingly both ‘orthos’, which means straight, and ‘paideia’ which means children are Greek words
- Some people refer Nicholas Andry as the Father of Orthopaedics, his other contribution being the ‘symbol’ of Orthopaedics, ‘ a bent tree which has been splinted’
- The term was first used in his book, L’orthopédie ou l’art de préveniet de corriger dans les enfans, les difformités du corps (Orthopaedia or the art of correcting and preventing deformities in children), published in 1741
- In those days, Orthopaedics, was primarily a speciality for correcting ‘deformities in children’ and that is why, the symbol of a Bent Tree
2 questions, please:
1. when a titanium hip socket/joint is used to replace the original bone…how is the blood supply, the marrow, the production of cells, then produced and;
2. how does the ‘body’ know or be aware of, the new replacements, ‘position’ ie no labrum, no bone to body relationship? I curious.