{"id":14213,"date":"2024-02-05T15:58:23","date_gmt":"2024-02-05T15:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/?p=14213"},"modified":"2025-07-23T22:49:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T21:49:29","slug":"hugh-owen-thomas-is-an-orthopedic-surgeon-who-revolutionized-orthopedic-practice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-14213-hugh-owen-thomas-is-an-orthopedic-surgeon-who-revolutionized-orthopedic-practice","title":{"rendered":"Hugh Owen Thomas is an orthopedic surgeon who revolutionized orthopedic practice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Orthopaedics is a crucial branch of clinical medicine dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal deformities and functional impairments. Today, we&#8217;re delving into the life of Hugh Owen Thomas, an orthopaedic surgeon who made monumental contributions to orthopaedic practice in Liverpool and beyond. Read more about his impactful work on the <a href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\">iliverpool.info<\/a> website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a34a7b19c5f7\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a34a7b19c5f7\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-14213-hugh-owen-thomas-is-an-orthopedic-surgeon-who-revolutionized-orthopedic-practice\/#The_Future_Orthopaedists_Youth\" >The Future Orthopaedist&#8217;s Youth<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-14213-hugh-owen-thomas-is-an-orthopedic-surgeon-who-revolutionized-orthopedic-practice\/#Medical_Practice\" >Medical Practice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-14213-hugh-owen-thomas-is-an-orthopedic-surgeon-who-revolutionized-orthopedic-practice\/#Contributions_to_Orthopaedics\" >Contributions to Orthopaedics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/iliverpool.info\/en\/eternal-14213-hugh-owen-thomas-is-an-orthopedic-surgeon-who-revolutionized-orthopedic-practice\/#Preventing_Orthopaedic_Conditions\" >Preventing Orthopaedic Conditions<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Future_Orthopaedists_Youth\"><\/span>The Future Orthopaedist&#8217;s Youth<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hugh Owen Thomas was born in Anglesey in 1834. Due to his poor health, Hugh lived with his grandparents in Anglesey until he was 13, as his parents believed that life in industrial Liverpool wouldn&#8217;t benefit his well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He attended a college in New Brighton until the age of 17, after which he became a pupil of Dr Owen Roberts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1855, he began his studies at the University of Edinburgh, then moved to University College London. He qualified as an MRCS England in 1857 and travelled to Paris to further his surgical studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1196\" height=\"1560\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2024\/02\/17201431\/hugh_owen_thomas._wellcome_l0018018.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-12685\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2024\/02\/17201431\/hugh_owen_thomas._wellcome_l0018018.jpg 1196w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2024\/02\/17201431\/hugh_owen_thomas._wellcome_l0018018-230x300.jpg 230w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2024\/02\/17201431\/hugh_owen_thomas._wellcome_l0018018-768x1002.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2024\/02\/17201431\/hugh_owen_thomas._wellcome_l0018018-1178x1536.jpg 1178w, https:\/\/cdn.iliverpool.info\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/63\/2024\/02\/17201431\/hugh_owen_thomas._wellcome_l0018018-696x908.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1196px) 100vw, 1196px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Medical_Practice\"><\/span>Medical Practice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hugh Owen Thomas initially joined his father Evan Thomas&#8217;s practice, but their relationship soon deteriorated. They held differing views on medicine, with Evan being academically less experienced. Consequently, the young medic embarked on his own practice in Liverpool. Over time, he acquired his own premises and expanded his surgical department to include two waiting rooms, consultation rooms, a surgery, and a workshop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hugh Owen Thomas became a renowned Liverpool orthopaedist, famously developing splints for immobilising fractured limbs. He even employed a blacksmith to manufacture these splints and other medical equipment. Thomas himself treated a vast number of patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1875, he published his first book, &#8220;Diseases of the Hip, Knee, and Ankle Joints,&#8221; in which he detailed his designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contributions_to_Orthopaedics\"><\/span>Contributions to Orthopaedics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hugh Owen Thomas made an immense contribution to the advancement of medicine in Liverpool and to orthopaedics in general. When treating fractures and tuberculosis, he insisted on the necessity of continuous, prolonged rest for the patient. Furthermore, he developed the famous Thomas splint for treating femoral and hip joint fractures. This innovative device helps stabilise a broken femur and prevents infection. It was widely adopted in 1916 for treating casualties during the First World War, with the Thomas splint reducing mortality from fractures during the war from a staggering 80% to just 20%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Beyond the splint, Thomas also developed the Thomas test (to assess hip contractures and extension), the Thomas collar (used for cervical spine tuberculosis), the Thomas manoeuvre (for hip joint fracture assessment), the Thomas wrench (for bone reduction), and the Thomas heel (to prevent talus depression).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Preventing_Orthopaedic_Conditions\"><\/span>Preventing Orthopaedic Conditions<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hugh Owen Thomas also designed the Thomas heel, a specific thickening of the shoe sole to support proper foot alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To avoid becoming clients of orthopaedists, modern doctors urge parents to focus on prevention:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When a child begins to walk, it&#8217;s advisable to purchase preventative footwear with a good, firm heel counter (quarter).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For prevention, consider footwear with a medium or slightly below-medium prophylactic heel counter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The heel counter should be snug, firm, and correctly secure the heel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When a child is just starting to walk, they should be wearing shoes for most of the time, especially on indoor surfaces like laminate or linoleum.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Occasionally walking barefoot on uneven surfaces like grass, sand, or pebbles is also recommended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hugh Owen Thomas truly revolutionised orthopaedic practice with his work. He successfully convinced his colleagues of the efficacy of splints and the importance of rest for bone fractures, among other innovations. We hope you found this article insightful and gained more knowledge about the history of our beloved city and its famous inhabitants.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Orthopaedics is a crucial branch of clinical medicine dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal deformities and functional impairments. Today, we&#8217;re delving into the life of Hugh Owen Thomas, an orthopaedic surgeon who made monumental contributions to orthopaedic practice in Liverpool and beyond. Read more about his impactful work on the iliverpool.info website. 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