title: Surgical advances during the First World War: the birth of modern orthopaedics.
abstract: The First World War (1914-1918) was the first truly industrial conflict in human history. Never before had rifle fire and artillery barrage been employed on a global scale. It was a conflict that over 4 years would leave over 750,000 British troops dead with a further 1.6 million injured, the majority with orthopaedic injuries. Against this backdrop, the skills of the orthopaedic surgeon were brought to the fore. Many of those techniques and systems form the foundation of modern orthopaedic trauma management. On the centenary of 'the War to end all Wars', we review the significant advances in wound management, fracture treatment, nerve injury and rehabilitation that were developed during that conflict.
authors.affiliation: The Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London, UK Army Medical Directorate, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: Arul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramasamy
authors.affiliation: Army Medical Directorate, Surrey, UK Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, James Cook University Hospital MDHU (N), Middlesborough, UK.
authors.forename: W G P
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Eardley
authors.affiliation: The Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London, UK Army Medical Directorate, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: The Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies, Imperial College London, London, UK Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, MDHU(FP), Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Clasper
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, James Cook University Hospital, Middlesborough, UK.
authors.forename: M P M
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery; D013502:General Surgery / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000266:history*; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000601:surgery; D047828:World War I
keywords: WOUND MANAGEMENT; military history