Sir Robert Jones (1857-1933) was a Welsh General and Orthopaedic Surgeon and part time Roentgenologist.
A worldwide driving force for the development of Orthopaedics as a distinct specialty during early 1900s. Published the first clinical radiograph less than 2 months after Roentgen’s original report
Established the Shropshire Orthopaedic Hospital, now known as Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital. Jones was reported to operate back-to-back for ten hours with a list of over 20 crippled children every Saturday.
Eponymously affiliated with the Jones fracture (1902)
Biography
- Born 28 June 1857 Rhyl, Wales.
- 1878 – Qualified in Medicine, Liverpool. Even prior to this he was assisting his uncle, Hugh Owen Thomas (inventor of Thomas splint), with his work at the historic 11 Nelson Street.
- 1889 – Obtained FRCSEd. Appointed surgeon at Royal Southern Hospital, Liverpool
- 1902 – Published his paper ‘Fracture of the base of the fifth metatarsal bone by indirect violence’, the fracture later went on to be eponymously known as Jones Fracture.
- 1905 – Specialised in Orthopaedic Surgery
- 1913 – Nominated President of Orthopaedics for the International Medical Congress
- 1914-1918 – Initially served as a medical officer in France then back in England he created a nationwide orthopaedic military service. For his tremendous work he was decorated with CB, Knight Bachelor, Knight Commander and finally Baronet in 1926.
- 1919 – Director of Orthopaedics, St Thomas’ Hospital, London.
- 1929 – First President of International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT)
- Died 14 January 1933.
Medical Eponyms
Jones Fracture (1902)
Fracture of the proximal diaphysis of the 5th metatarsal, distal to the tuberosity, without joint involvement. Caused by foot inversion / twisting and repetitive stress
Whilst dancing, I trod on the outer side of my foot, my heel at the moment being off the ground. Something gave way midway down my foot, and I at once suspected a rupture of the peroneus longus tendon…I hobbled down-stairs to my colleague…to X-ray my foot. This was done, and the fifth metatarsal was found fractured about three-fourths of an inch from its base.
Jones R, Ann Surg. 1902: 697
Other eponyms
- Jones Bandage – Compression dressing; padded pressure bandage for the knee used post-operatively
- Jones Abduction Frame – Apparatus used on hospital beds to aid hip adduction
Major Publications
- Jones R. Lodge O. The discovery of a bullet lost in the wrist by means of the Roentgen Rays. The Lancet. 1896;147(3782):476-477
- Jones R. Fracture of the Base of the Fifth Metatarsal Bone by Indirect Violence. Ann Surg. 1902;35(6):697–700 [Jones Fracture]
- Jones R. Fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone. Liverpool medico-chirurgical journal 1902; 22: 103-107.
References
- Brodell JD, Axon DL, Evarts CM. The Robert Jones bandage. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1986 Nov;68(5):776-9.
- Biography: Sir Robert Jones. Plarr’s Lives of the Fellows Online. Royal College of Surgeons of England.
- Mostofi SB. Who’s Who in Orthopedics. Springer; 2005 edition. pp164-167
- Hunter TB, Peltier LF, Lund PJ. Radiologic history exhibit. Musculoskeletal eponyms: who are those guys? RadioGraphics 2000; 20: 819-36.
- Cadogan M. Eponymythology of foot injuries. LITFL
eponym
the person behind the name
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