E. Amory Codman, surgeon of the 1990s

Ernest Amory Codman is known to orthopaedists primarily For his work in sho ulder surgery. But his contributions reached many other fields of medicine, including pathology, radiology, anesthesiology and most surgical subspecia lties. Perhaps his most important work was that on the "end result idea," a n early approach to outcome studies that anticipated much of the current he alth-care climate. This article examines his life and explains his contribu tions to medicine and surgery and their pertinence to current practice.