Albert Henry Freiberg

Albert Henry Freiberg (1868 – 1940) was an American Orthopedic Surgeon.

He obtained his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati, Ohio in 1890, and before establishing his practice there, studied in various European cities during his graduate years.

He held the title of professor of orthopaedic surgery for 37 years. During WWI he attained the rank of Major in the U.S. Army Medical corps. He held positions in the American College of Surgeons, Orthopaedic Association, and Medical Association.

Freiberg was an accomplished violinist as well as an amateur botanist and photographer. He served as Chairman of the Professional Advisory Committee on Crippled Children in Ohio and worked actively to improve the conditions for disabled children

Eponymously associated with Freiberg infraction (1914)

Biography

• Born on August 17, 1868 in Cincinnati, Ohio
• 1890 – MD, Medical College of Ohio (now the University of Cincinnati Medical School)
• Studied in Wurzburg, Strassburg, Berlin, Paris, Vienna and London during his graduate years
• 1902-1939 Professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Cincinnati, Ohio
• 1910 – President of the American Orthopedic Association
• 1914-1918 WWI Rank of Major n the U.S. Army Medical corps. Member of the advisory council on orthopedic surgery at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC
• Director of orthopedic surgery services at the Cincinnati General, Jewish and Children’s hospitals in Cincinnati
• Died on July 14, 1940 in Cincinnati, Ohio

Medical Eponyms

Freiberg infraction (1914)

Osteochondrosis of the metatarsal heads (typically the 2nd metatarsal head) characterized pathologically by subchondral bone collapse, osteonecrosis, and cartilaginous fissures.

Freiberg infraction is more common in women and most commonly manifests during adolescence (aged 10-18 years). Bilateral presentation in 10% of cases. Cause unknown and probably multi-factorial. High-heeled shoes have been implicated as a causative factor.

In 1913, Freiberg presented a paper to the Southern Surgical and Gynecological Association. He reported the cases of six young women presenting with a painful limp and discomfort localized to the second metatarsal, the first patient presenting in 1903. [1914; 26: 171-174]

Freiberg employed used the term ‘infraction’ as the diagnosis (archaic term for fracture without displacement implying trauma as the cause)

I felt justified in the diagnosis of infraction of the distal end of the second metatarsal, a condition which I have thus far failed to find described in the literature.

Freiberg 1914

Major Publications

• Freiberg AH, Schroeder JH. A note on the foot of the American. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences, 1903
• Freiberg AH. Congenital luxation of the ankle. Annals of Surgery, 1903
• Freiberg AH. Preliminary statement regarding the treatment of joint tuberculosis with Marmorek’s serum. 1907
• Freiberg AH. Some of the Ultimate Physical Effects of Premature Toil. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1907; 29: 19-25
• Freiberg AH. Some Effects of Improper Posture in Factory Labor. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 1909; 33: 104-110
• Freiberg AH. Infraction of the second metatarsal – a typical injury. Transactions of the Southern Surgical and Gynecological Association 1914;26:171-174. [Freiberg infraction]
• Freiberg AH. The Restoration of Disabled Soldiers to Industrial Service. Proceedings of the Academy of Political Science in the City of New York, Volume 8. 1919
• Freiberg AH. The so-called infraction of the second metatarsal bone. J Bone Joint Surg 1926; 8: 257-61.

References

Biography

• Freiberg Family Papers. American Jewish Archives Collection No. 716
• Bibliography. Freiberg, Albert Henry 1868-1940. WorldCat Identities

Eponymous terms

• Hunter TB, Peltier LF, Lund PJ. Radiologic history exhibit. Musculoskeletal eponyms: who are those guys? RadioGraphics 2000; 20: 819-36.
• Cadogan M, Gomez A. Eponymythology of foot injuries. LITFL
• Cadogan M. Freiberg infraction. Eponym A Day. Instagram

Mike Cadogan

Associate Professor Curtin Medical School, Curtin University. Emergency physician MA (Oxon) MBChB (Edin) FACEM FFSEM Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.  Passion for rugby; medical history; medical education; and asynchronous learning #FOAMed evangelist. Co-founder and CTO of Life in the Fast lane | Eponyms | Books | Twitter |

Aparicio Gomez

Resident medical officer in emergency medicine MB ChB (Uni. Dundee)  MRCS Ed. Avid traveller, yoga teacher, polylinguist with a passion for discovering cultures.