Sophus von Rosen

Biographical Timeline

• Born on May 11, 1898 at Östra Strö, Skåne, Sweden
• 1916 – Completed studentexamen at Eslöv.
• 1917 – Matriculated at Lund University. During his student years he became known for theatrical and carnival performances
• 1921 – Awarded medicine kandidat at Lund.
• 1923 – Entered the reserve of the Swedish Army medical service as a fältläkarstipendiat.
• 1924–1927 – Amanuensis in anatomy and subsequently pathology at Lund University.
• 1928 – Awarded medicine licentiat at Lund. Appointed battalion medical officer in the reserve.
• 1928–1930 – Junior physician in the Orthopaedic Clinic at Lund Hospital
• 1930–1933 – Junior physician in the surgical department at Kristianstad Hospital.
• 1933 – Appointed head of the orthopaedic department at Härnösand
• 1939 – Awarded MD at Lund for his thesis Die Infektiösen Krankheitsprozesse Der Kniescheibe on infectious disease of the patella.
• 1940 – Appointed docent in orthopaedics at Lund University and head of the Orthopaedic Department at Malmö General Hospital, where he remained until retirement in 1965.
• 1949–1965 – Assistant teacher in orthopaedics at Lund University Medical School.
• 1950–1968 – Editor of Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica.
• 1951–1955 – Served as styresman at Malmö General Hospital.
• 1952 – With Per Selander, head of Malmö Children’s Hospital, began a systematic programme for the early diagnosis and immediate treatment of congenital hip instability in newborns.
• 1956 – Published Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Congenital Dislocation of the Hip Joint and introduced the von Rosen abduction splint for immediate treatment of unstable neonatal hips.
• 1958 – With radiologist Lars Andrén, published The diagnosis of dislocation of the hip in newborns and the primary results of immediate treatment, describing the Andrén–von Rosen view.
• 1962 – Published Diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip joint in the new-born
• 1965 May 31 – Retired as head of the Lund University Department of Orthopaedics at Malmö General Hospital after 32 years.
• 1965 onwards – Travelled to Algeria, assisting the Red Crescent with stump revision and prosthetic fitting for children and others injured by land mines following the civil war.
• 1968 December – Stepped down from the editorship of Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica.
• 1976 – Awarded the Swedish honorary title of Professor (professors namn).
• Died on January 11, 1996 in Malmö, aged 97.

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Medical Eponyms

Von Rosen splint (1956)

The von Rosen splint is a malleable aluminium abduction splint developed for immediate treatment of unstable or dislocated hips in newborn infants. Von Rosen designed the device to maintain continuous reduction while allowing limited hip movement and routine nursing care.

See: von Rosen splint

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Andrén–von Rosen view (1958)

In 1958, with radiologist Lars Andrén, von Rosen described an AP radiographic projection obtained with the femora abducted and internally rotated to assess whether the neonatal hip was reduced or dislocated. The extended femoral-shaft axis later became known as the von Rosen line.

See: Andrén–von Rosen view

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Major Publications

• Von Rosen S. Ein Fall Von Synovialem Sarkoendotheliom Des Kniegelenks. Acta Orthopaedica, 1937; 8(1-2): 191–207.
• Von Rosen S. Die Infektiösen Krankheitsprozesse Der Kniescheibe. Acta Orthopaedica, 1939; 10(sup3): 1–160.
• Von Rosen S. Zur Technik Der Subtrochantären Osteotomie. Acta Orthopaedica, 1941; 12(1-4): 101–116.
• Von Rosen S. Zur Diagnose Und Behandlunq Der Bandverletzunqen Des Knieqelenks. Acta Orthopaedica, 1941; 12(1-4): 117–159.
• Von Rosen S. Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Congenital Dislocation of the Hip Joint. Acta Orthopaedica, 1956; 26(2): 136–155.
• Andrén L, Von Rosen S. The diagnosis of dislocation of the hip in newborns and the primary results of immediate treatment. Acta Radiol (Stockh). 1958 Feb;49(2):89-95. 
• von Rosen. Diagnosis and treatment of congenital dislocation of the hip joint in the new-born. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1962 May;44-B:284-91.
• von Rosen S. Further experience with congenital dislocation of the hip in the newborn. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1968 Aug;50(3):538-41
• Von Rosen S. Instability of the hip in the newborn. Fifteen years experiences in Malmö. Acta Orthopaedica, 1970; 41(sup130): 13-24.
• Palmén K, Rosen S. von. Late Diagnosis Dislocation of the Hip Joint in Children. Acta Orthopaedica, 1975; 46(1): 90–101.

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References

Biography

• Bauer GC. Sophus von Rosen. Acta Orthop Scand. 1965;36:1-7.
• Nilsson B. Sophus von Roser 1898–1996. Acta Orthopaedica, 1996; 67(3): 313–313.
• von Rosen, E Sophus. Vem är Vem?: Skåne, Halland, Blekinge
• Dr.med. Eric Sophus von Rosen. Om slægterne Brændgaard & Heilesen
• Sophus von Rosen. Öppet bildarkiv, Sydsvenska Medicinhistoriska Sällskapet (SMHS)