The german orthopedic society from 1918 to 1932. Developments and trends

The German Orthopedic Society was founded in 1901. The period between 1918 and 1932 was characterized by the aftermath of World War 1. Up to the middl e of the 2nd decade, orthopedic surgeons mainly treated soldiers and civili ans affected by the war. Almost every congress dealt with amputations and a rtificial limbs. At the same time, orthopedic surgery became a specialty at the German universities, legitimizing it as a subject of its own. Besides the large number of victims of the First World War who had to be treated by orthopedic surgeons,there was a second group of patients,the so-called cri pples. These handicapped people had not previously been treated in general. A new law established in 1920 guaranteed the government's support for trea tment and education of these patients. This law was called "Kruppel-Fursorg e-Gesetz," which entailed welfare but also resocialization of the handicapp ed, including their return to work. The German nation recognized the econom ic benefit of this law and accepted the financial burden. During this period, German orthopedic surgeons developed many important sur gical techniques, diagnostic tests, and technical findings for the producti on of orthoses and artificial limbs. Some examples of techniques are descri bed in the article: UVirradiation for the treatment of rickets according to K. Huldschinsky, Borggreve's rotationplasty of the leg (Umkehrplastik), ha llux valgus arthroplasty according to Brandes, and Bragard's sign.