Pierre-Joseph Desault
Pierre-Joseph Desault (1738 – 1795) was a French surgeon and anatomist.
Biography
- Born February 6, 1738 in Vouhenans, France
- Died June 1, 1795 in Paris, France
Medical Eponyms
Key Medical Contributions
Colles fracture: Desault is often quoted as defining the distal radius fracture prior to Colles description in 1814. Desault alluded to the combination of a fracture and dislocation but did little to shed light on distinguishing between the two or to suggest any alteration in treatment.
Original
English
“Il est une circonstance dependant, où voisine de l’articulation du carpe, la division peut donner à des apparences qui mentent une luxation de cette partie. Alors en effet, comme dans celle-ci, quelquefois une convexité en arrière, une dépression en devant, ou réciproquement se font àppercevoir; effet du déplacement des fragment.”
“There is a circumstance, however, where a fracture near to the joint of the wrist, may give rise to appearances similar to a luxation of that part. In both cases, indeed, a convexity behind, and a depression before, or the reverse, are perceived, and are the effect of a displacement of the fragments.”
Major Publications
- Desault P-J. Dissertation sur les maladies venerienes: contenant une méthode de les guérir sans flux de bouche, sans risque et sans dépense : avec deux dissertations, l’une sur la rage, l’autre sur la phtisie, et la manière de les guérir radicalement. 1733
- Desault P-J. A treatise on the venereal distemper: containing a method of curing it without salivation, danger, or great expense. With two dissertations; the first on madness from the bite of mad creatures ; the second on consumptions. With a method of curing them radically. [English translation 1738]
- Desault P-J. Pro actu publico. 1776 [Discours de félicitations et d’exhortations à un candidat érudit, rappelant l’importance de la physiologie et de l’anatomie ainsi que le passé glorieux de l’Ecole de médecine.]
- Desault P-J, Bichat X. Œuvres chirurgicales de P.J. Desault. 1798 [Tome II]
- Desault P-J. Cours théorique et pratique de clinique externe. 1803 [Tome II]
- Desault P-J, Bichat X. A treatise on fractures, luxations, and other affections of the bones. 1811 [Translated by Charles Caldwell]
- Desault P-J, Bichat X. The surgical works, or, Statement of the doctrine and practice of P.J. Desault. 1814 [Volume II]
Controversies
References
Biography
- Sauzay É. Un chirurgien au sìecle dernier, P.J. Desault. 1889
Eponymous terms
- Fernandez DL, Jupiter JB. Fracture of the Distal End of the Radius: Historical Perspective. In: Fractures of the Distal Radius. 2002: 1-21
