INTRODUCTION: German-speaking surgeons have left a deep imprint on the history of diagnostics and treatment of proximal femur fractures. Some of the studies published in German have fell into oblivion, others are cited until today, although sometimes quite inaccurately. The cause of such inaccuracies are citations from secondary sources due to unavailability of the original or inability to read it because of a language barrier. In the current literature, globally predominated by English articles, the "German history" of treatment of proximal femur fractures remains undervalued. The aim of the present article is to point out its contribution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Literature search was performed in original publications and historical sources. RESULTS: The German-speaking surgeons have considerably contributed to the development of the treatment of proximal femur fractures. The analyzed period between 1847 and 1970 may be divided into three basic periods. In the first period (1847-1896), the German-speaking surgeons (Langenbeck, Trendelenburg, König, Heine, Dolinger) were the first worldwide to start treating the fractures of proximal femur operatively. In the second period (1897-1935), mainly in the 1930s, the initiative in Europe was taken over by surgeons publishing studies in France and in Belgium. Overseas, American surgeons were coming to the forefront. In Germany, only Pauwels developed the first biomechanical classification of femoral neck fractures. In the third period (1936-1970), mainly in the 1940s and 1950s, implants were designed (Pohl, Künstcher), based on close collaboration between German engineers and surgeons, that served as a model for a dynamic hip screw and a proximal femoral nail, which are currently the implants of choice in the treatment of trochanteric fractures. CONCLUSION: The historical contribution of German-speaking surgeons to understanding the issue of proximal femur fractures and their operative treatment is far more significant than presented in the historical studies published in English.

• Klíčová slova
• German literature, History, Internal fixation, Proximal femur fractures,
• MeSH
• femur chirurgie   MeSH
• fraktury krčku femuru * chirurgie   MeSH
• fraktury kyčle * chirurgie   MeSH
• fraktury proximálního femuru * MeSH
• kostní hřeby MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• vnitřní fixace fraktury MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Miller Edwin Preston (1879-1928) is cited in the literature in connection with the first angled implant for the fixation of fractures of the femoral neck. Further research has shown that this surgeon emphasised the principles of internal fixation and is the author of several extraordinary and still-valid concepts: "There is no branch of surgery in which nature is more exacting than bone work. To be successful in this field, the cases must be carefully selected, the most rigid asepsis should be observed, the surgeon must possess a good working knowledge of anatomy and fully appreciate the laws of stress, strain and leverage. The internal fixation of a fracture is decidedly an engineering problem, as well as a surgical procedure, and it is probable that a larger percentage of failures have resulted from violation of mechanical laws than have been due to faulty surgical asepsis." However, his merit has never been fully appreciated and his name fell into oblivion.

• Klíčová slova
• History of internal fixation, History of treatment of fractures of femoral neck, Miller Edwin Preston,
• MeSH
• biomechanika MeSH
• fraktury krčku femuru * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• vnitřní fixace fraktury MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The presented overview shows that the first efforts to address patellar fractures by operative treatment, although sporadic, emerged in the pre-antiseptic era. Introduction of Lister's antiseptic method in Great Britain, Germany and the USA in 1877-1882 contributed to a new, progressive trend in the treatment of fractures of the patella as well as of other bones. The authors, using Lister's antiseptic method, evaluated three basic aspects in their operations, namely healing of the surgical wound without infective complications, achievement of bony union and a good functional outcome, i.e. restoring the range of motion in the knee, even if limited in most cases. The majority of them used a longitudinal incision and fixation by a silver wire.

• Klíčová slova
• History of internal fixation, History of orthopaedics, Patellar fractures,
• MeSH
• dějiny 19. století MeSH
• fraktury kostí dějiny   chirurgie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• patela zranění   chirurgie   MeSH
• vnitřní fixace fraktury dějiny   metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dějiny 19. století MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• historické články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Spojené státy americké MeSH