Louis Dominique le Roy and the first documented and successful crural fracture osteosynthesis, performed in Antwerp in 1796

Abstract

Methods In 1796 the Antwerp surgeon Louis Dominique Le Roy (1755–1826) performed an osteosynthesis for an open crural fracture, using cerclage of the tibia with a golden thread. The written report, the first ever of such osteosynthesis, is documented by the publication in Dutch, and translated here in English language. Results The osteosynthesis proved successful. The patient completely healed. Conclusion This is the first successful osteosynthesis and thereby antedates by far the late nineteenth century cerclage operations of long bones.