Orthopedic surgery

1. Mallet and McEwen’s nail prototypes for
arthrodesis (c. 1920): round, stainless steel,
1½–5" long. Modern surgery uses bone screws
and thinner pins (Kirschner pins) guided by
forceps and pliers. Fine, flexible pins are
inserted using an adjustable hammering
handle.
2. Stile nail for arthrodesis: prototype, named
for Sir Harold Stiles, 1863–1946. Replaced in
15 years by bone screws of various sizes
(see photo below in the circle).
3. Square nail for arthrodesis (c. 1925): prototype,
by Sir Harold Stiles, stainless steel.
4. Pliers and directing forceps (c. 1900): for
intraosseous pin prototype, handling.
5. Pin introducing handle: c. 1900, forcepsguide
and pliers, prototype, bronze.
6. Patterns of bone plates and femoral neck
nails: 1950, stainless steel, prototype.
7. Lanes original pattern prototype bone
plate: c. 1910, 10 hole, 6 ½” for fractures
(Sir Arbuthnot Lane), steel. The narrow parts
of the plates enabled it to be bent to the shape
of the bone.
8. Early “lead hand”: c. 1880, sterilized, used
to stabilize the hand during surgery.
9. Smith Petersen hip prosthesis: prototype,
stainless steel, c. 1955. This prosthesis replaced
the eroded femoral head in osteoarthritis.
Surgical Saws
See also Gallery Showcase M.
10. Two bone saws: Rust’s bow saw, 1881 (right),
and a bow saw (left) with blade-tightening
handle, 1911.
11. Small amputation saw, Ashhurst design
(1840–1880).
12. Two fine amputation saws, c.1900.
13. Prototype of a “Halo”: c. 1900, for fixation
and traction of the head-skull.
14. Prototype of plaster-of-Paris-cast shears and
three bone chisels and a rasp: c. 1880–1900.
15. A prototype of a spring-loaded meniscus
blade.