Lorenz Böhler

Biography

• Born on January 15, 1885 in Wolfurt, Vorarlberg, Austria
• 1911 – Medical degree, University of Vienna Medical School
• 1914 – Worked at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Impressed by the organisational structure of the clinic.
• 1915 – Awarded Knights Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph
• 1917 – Awarded Merit Cross of the Austrian Red Cross
• 1925 – Founded the Unfallkrankenhaus (Accident Hospital) in Vienna. Böhler convinced insurance companies managing patients with workers compensation claims following industrial accidents to organise the care of workers with industrial injuries under his aegis, he could improve the results and reduce costs.
• 1940 – Elected a member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
• 1957 – Became an Honorary Citizen of Wolfurt
• 1972 – New Accident Hospital named after him ‘Emergency Hospital Vienna Lorenz Böhler’
• Died on January 20, 1973 in Vienna

Medical Eponyms

Böhler angle (1931)

The angle between line from highest point of anterior process to highest point of posterior facet plus line tangential to superior edge of tuberosity; measured on lateral foot x-ray. Normally 20-40°. If < 20° represents a calcaneal fracture (or more specifically a collapse of the posterior facet)

Normally there exists, between the upper contour of the tuberosity of the os calcis and the line uniting the highest point of the anterior process with the highest point of the posterior articular surface, an angle of thirty to thirty-five degrees. This angle I have named the “tuber-joint angle“. In fractures of the os calcis this angle becomes smaller, straight, or even reversed

Böhler 1931

• Fig 5. Normal tuber-joint angle of 40 degrees in a normal os calcis. The longitudinal axis of the astragalus (talus) is inclined.
• Fig 6. Tuber-joint angle of 20 degrees in a mild fracture of the os calcis. The longitudinal axis of the astragalus (talus) approaches the horizontal

Major Publications

• Böhler L. Die Technik der Knochenbruchbehandlung, Band I, Band II, Ergänzungsband 1929 [The Treatment Of Fractures Vol I, II, III]
• Böhler L. Wie schützen wir die Verwundeten vor Amputation und Krüppeltum? Zeitschrift für orthopädische Chirurgie 1924; 45: 244-281.
• Böhler L. Diagnosis, pathology and treatment of fractures of the os calcis. J Bone Joint Surg 1931; 13: 75-89 [Böhler angle]
• Böhler L. The Treatment of Fractures. William Wood & Company. 1936
• Böhler L. Wundbehandlung. Zeitschrift für ärztliche Fortbildung. 1941; 38 (22): 545-552.
• Böhler L. Unfallkrankenhäuser, Unfallabteilungen, Unfallkliniken. Archiv für orthopädische und Unfall-Chirurgie 1942; 42(1): 5–23.
• Böhler L. Vorschlag zur Marknagelung nach Küntscher bei frischen Oberschenkelschussbrüchen. Der Chirurgie 1943; 15(1): 8–13.
• Böhler L. Medullary Nailing Of Kuntscher. 1948

References

Biography

• Bohler J. Lorenz Böhler: in memoriam. J Trauma. 1973; 13(7): 658-659.
• Mostofi SB. Lorenz Böhler. Who’s Who in Orthopedics. Springer. 2005: 30-31
• Bibliography. Böhler, Lorenz 1885-1973. WorldCat Identities

Eponymous terms

• Chen MY, Bohrer SP, Kelley TF. Boehler’s angle: a reappraisal. Ann Emerg Med. 1991 Feb;20(2):122-4.
• Gomez A, Cadogan M. Eponymythology of foot injuries. LITFL
• Cadogan M. Böhler angle. Eponym A Day. Instagram

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