ORTHOPAEDICS IN CHINA: ITS PAST AND PRESENT

摘要

Orthopaedics in China originates from two great branches of medicine. traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and western medicine (WM). The history of TCM dates back to over 3 000 years. Hua Tuo (200 A.D.) was the pioneer of oral anesthesia and wound excision. Treatment of fracture, dislocation, and deformities of bones and joints was described in the medical classics by a number of authors since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) (Table 1). Emphasis was laid on careful palpation of fracture ends and displaced tendons. Later on, there were 8 steps of reduction, of which the most notable one was "bending of the tips" of fracture fragments, i.e. sliding one end on the other in planes perpendicular to each other, and levering for reduction. Then shaking, pounding, and rearranging the soft tissue, etc followed. Fixation with short splintage was developed. Improvement of local circulation and dissipation of swelling by oral administration and local application of herb medicine were advised.