Robert Merle d’Aubigné and the Judet brothers, Jean and Robert: the birth of modern orthopedic surgery in the middle of the 20th century
Background: The mid-twentieth century marked a critical transition for French orthopedic surgery as it evolved from a sub-specialty of general and pediatric surgery into an independent, highly specialized field. This development was necessitated by the increasing complexity of trauma and degenerative conditions following World War II and the requirement for standardized surgical training and dedicated clinical infrastructure.
Objective: This article documents the historical contributions of Robert Merle d’Aubigné, Jean Judet, and Robert Judet to the formalization of modern orthopedics in France, focusing on their roles in establishing specialized surgical centers, innovative techniques, and academic frameworks.
Key Points: Robert Merle d’Aubigné established the Léopold Ollier pavilion at Cochin Hospital, implementing a model of hyperspecialization across hip, knee, spine, and tumor surgery while introducing rigorous scientific methodology to surgical indications. Simultaneously, the Judet brothers introduced significant technical advancements, including the 1946 development of the acrylic resin femoral head prosthesis, which served as a precursor to modern hip arthroplasty. Their contributions further extended to quadricepsplasty for knee contractures, subperiosteal decortication for the treatment of pseudarthrosis, and the implementation of systematic neonatal screening for congenital hip dislocation. These two schools of thought—the rigorous, diagnostic-led approach of the Cochin School and the technical innovation of the Raymond Poincaré Hospital center—provided the foundation for contemporary orthopedic practice and education.
Conclusion: The integration of structured academic training with technical innovation by these three surgeons was instrumental in the recognition of orthopedic surgery as a distinct specialty, establishing clinical protocols and prosthetic concepts still relevant in modern musculoskeletal medicine.
