Surgery, Science And Industry: A Revolution In Fracture Care, 1950s-1990s (science, Technology And Medicine In Modern History)

## Part III Conclusion Conclusion: Surgery, Science and Industry in Modern Medicine Notes Bibliography Index List of Figures 1. Systematic conservative treatment. Lorenz Böhler, Technik der Knochenbruchbehandlung im Frieden und im Kriege (9th to 11th revised and augmented edition), This book charts the history of the worldwide introduction of an operative treatment method for broken bones, osteosynthesis, by a Swiss-based association, called AO. In close cooperation surgeons, scientists and manufacturers succeeded in establishing the complicated and risky technique as standard treatment. This success story provides the opportunity to examine key developments at the crossroads of medicine, science and industry in the second half of the twentieth century, such as the relationships between clinic and laboratory, statistics and risk assessment as well as the ethical problems arising from the symbiosis of science and industry. The study shows how the spread of new medical techniques depends on simultaneous adoption of the necessary knowledge and skills among practitioners and its acceptance by patients, and analyzes the impact of cultural variety on these processes. It thus sheds light on the nature of modern medicine as a science-based, standardized and highly efficient way of treating bodily ills Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction: The AO....Pages 1-5 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Dealing with Broken Bones....Pages 9-27 Starting the Network....Pages 28-45 A Symbiosis of Surgery, Science and Industry....Pages 46-64 ‘Tacit Knowledge’: Education and Training on a Face-to-Face Basis....Pages 65-85 Science and Surgery: Bones in the Laboratory....Pages 86-109 The Science of Surgery: Clinical Research....Pages 110-137 Front Matter....Pages 139-139 Acceptance: The AO becomes Mainstream....Pages 141-168 Optimised Control: The AO’s Success in East Germany....Pages 169-179 The Long Road to Success: The AO in the US....Pages 180-195 Redefining Osteosynthesis: Another Revolution in Fracture Care....Pages 196-217 Control and Cooperation on a Global Scale: AO International and the AO Foundation....Pages 218-236 Front Matter....Pages 237-237 Conclusion: Surgery, Science and Industry in Modern Medicine....Pages 239-259 Back Matter....Pages 260-349 Foreword / Ulrich Trohler -- Introduction: The Ao -- Setting Up A Network, 1950s-1970s -- Dealing With Broken Bones -- Starting The Network -- A Symbiosis Of Surgery, Science And Industry -- 'tacit Knowledge': Education And Training On A Face-to-face Basis -- Science And Surgery: Bones In The Laboratory -- The Science Of Surgery: Clinical Research -- Coping With Success, 1970s-1990s -- Acceptance: The Ao Becomes Mainstream -- Optimised Control: The Ao's Success In East Germany -- The Long Road To Success: The Ao In The Us -- Redefining Osteosynthesis: Another Revolution In Fracture Care -- Control And Cooperation On A Global Scale: Ao International And Ao Foundation -- Conclusion: Surgery, Science And Industry In Modern Medicine. Thomas Schlich. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 260-335) And Index. This book charts the history of the worldwide introduction of an operative treatment method for broken bones, osteosynthesis, by a Swiss-based association, called AO. The success of the close cooperation between the AO's surgeons, scientists and manufacturers in establishing a complicated and risky technique as a standard treatment sheds light on the mechanisms of medical innovation at the crossroads of surgery, science and industry and the nature of modern medicine in general. Fixing broken bones seems an obvious thing to do, and it is no surprise that fracture treatment is among the most ancient medical techniques for which we have evidence.