Eponymous terms in daily practice: a survey among Dutch orthopedic surgeons

Eponymous terms in acromioclavicular joint surgery

Eponymization serves as a means of paying tribute to individuals who have made significant contributions to our culture. Each eponym is often linked with a story for everyone to discover. To aid in the retention of these stories, this review offers readers an overview of the individuals behind the eponymous terms, as well as their original descriptions, within the context of acromioclavicular joint pathology and orthopaedic surgery.

A history of eponym usage in hip and pelvis radiography part 1: the paediatric hip

Eponyms, while inherently flawed, remain a constant in medical vernacular, especially in orthopaedic surgery. It is essential to understand how these eponyms came to be named and for whom they were named after in order to know the correct usage and definition of these eponyms. In this first part, we describe the history of eponym usage in paediatric hip radiography; who, when, what, where, and how. We hope to provide a historical perspective of interest, resolve any controversies in semantic definitions, and create a comprehensive library of eponymous terms related to paediatric hip radiography.

A history of eponym usage in hip and pelvis radiography part 2: the adult hip

Eponyms, while inherently flawed, remain a constant in medical vernacular, especially in orthopaedic surgery. It is essential to understand how these eponyms came to be named and for whom they were named after in order to understand their correct usage and definitions. In this second part of a 2-part review, we describe the history of eponym usage in the radiography of the adult hip; who, when, what, where, and how. We hope to provide a historical perspective of interest, resolve any controversies in semantic definitions, and create a comprehensive library of eponymous terms related to adult hip radiography.

An eponymous history of the anterolateral ligament complex of the knee

BACKGROUND

Recent interest has surged in the anterolateral ligament (ALL) and complex (ALC) of the knee. Its existence and role in rotary stability of the knee, particularly in the setting of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, remains a contentious and controversial topic.

UNDERSTANDING THE ALC

We must review our history and recognize the pioneers who pushed our understanding of the ALL forward before it was popularly recognized as a discrete structure. Additionally, given that many eponyms remain in common use related to the ALC, we must standardize our nomenclature to prevent misuse or misunderstanding of terms in the literature. In this review, modern understanding of the anterolateral ligament complex (ALC) is traced to 1829 by exploring eponymous terms first in anatomy and then in surgical technique. Understanding our history and terminology will allow us to better understand the ALC itself.

CONCLUSION

This review aims to provide historical context, define terminology, and provide insight into the clinical relevance of the ALC.

Increasing consensus on terminology of Achilles tendon-related disorders

PURPOSE

Aims of this study are to evaluate the current terminology and assess the influence of the latest proposals on the terminology used for Achilles tendon-related disorders in both daily practice and literature.

METHODS

(1) All orthopedic surgeons experienced in the field of foot and ankle surgery of the Ankleplatform Study Group were invited to participate in this survey by email. They were requested to fill out a survey on terminology in six typical cases with Achilles tendon-related disorders. (2) A systematic literature search of Achilles tendon-related disorders was performed in eight foot and ankle journals in Medline, Embase (Classic) from 2000 to 2016. All extracted terms were counted and compared to the terminology proposals, based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology.

RESULTS

(1) In total, 141 of the 283 (50%) orthopedic surgeons responded to the survey. In five out of six cases with Achilles tendon-related disorders, the majority gave an answer according to latest proposals. (2) An overview of terminology used for Achilles tendon-related disorders from 2000 to 2016 shows an increase in use of terminology according to the latest proposals based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology.

CONCLUSION

The revised terminology for Achilles tendon-related disorders based on anatomic location, symptoms, clinical findings and histopathology is used by the majority of orthopedic surgeons and is increasingly used in the literature. However, the indistinct Haglund eponyms are still frequently used in Achilles tendon-related terminology.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV.

The Girdlestone situation: a historical essay

The eponymous term 'Girdlestone situation' originally referred to an excision of the femoral head in case of an acute pyogenic infection of the hip, described by Gathorne Robert Girdlestone in 1945. Over time the procedure and the indication to perform it have significantly changed. This article presents a short biography of Girdlestone with a concomitant report on investigating the evolution of the indication and technique of the Girdlestone situation from the first description up to contemporary literature.