David M. Bosworth
Encyclopedia
Professor David Marsh Bosworth (23 January 1897, New York City
– 11 July 1979, Vermont
) was an American
orthopedic surgeon
. He is remembered for describing the Bosworth fracture
.
and the University of Vermont
, graduating B.A.
cum laude in 1918. He studied medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine
, member of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, graduating cum laude in 1921, and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society
.
He carried out his internship at the Mary Fletcher Hospital
in Burlington, Vermont
, and his residency
at the Women's Hospital
in New York. He then worked as Instructor of Anatomy at the University of Vermont College of Medicine for three years before becoming Lecturer in Anatomy at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
in 1925 and then orthopedic resident at the New York Orthopaedic Hospital
in 1926.
After completing his residency in 1928 he worked in New York, holding staff appointments at St. Luke's Hospital, New York Polyclinic Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital
, Seaview Hospital, the House of St. Giles the Cripple and Richmond Borough Hospital, in addition to being consultant to 22 hospitals. He became Visiting Professor at the University of Vermont in 1942, and was Professor at the New York Polyclinic Medical School and at Flower-Fifth Avenue Medical School. He was also Consultant Surgeon of the New York City Police Department
from 1945, Impartial Specialist to the New York Supreme Court
and the United States Department of Labor
, and examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
from 1940 to 1966.
Between 1930 and 1967 he published 94 papers, including work on bone and joint tuberculosis
, including the introduction of streptomycin
for its treatment. He also published papers on surgery of the hip, spine
and shoulder
. He described the rare fibular fracture that bears his name in a 1947 series of 5 patients, still the largest series of this ankle
injury. He was appointed to the Editorial Board and the Board of Trustees of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
, serving as Treasurer.
He was President of the American Orthopaedic Association in 1957, was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha
, and was awarded an honorary D.Sc.
by the University of Vermont in 1963. He was awarded membership of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, and became the only foreign recipient of the Second Order of the Sacred Treasure
in April 1968.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
– 11 July 1979, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
orthopedic surgeon
Orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery or orthopedics is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system...
. He is remembered for describing the Bosworth fracture
Bosworth fracture
The Bosworth fracture is a rare fracture of the distal fibula with an associated fixed posterior dislocation of the proximal fibular fragment which becomes trapped behind the posterior tibial tubercle. The injury is caused by severe external rotation of the ankle...
.
Biography
David Bosworth was born in New York City in 1897, the son of a minister. He attended the City College of New YorkCity College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
and the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
, graduating B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
cum laude in 1918. He studied medicine at the University of Vermont College of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
The University of Vermont College of Medicine is an American medical school located in Burlington, Vermont and associated with the University of Vermont . Established in 1822, it is the nation's seventh oldest medical school...
, member of Phi Chi Medical Fraternity, graduating cum laude in 1921, and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society
Phi Beta Kappa Society
The Phi Beta Kappa Society is an academic honor society. Its mission is to "celebrate and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences"; and induct "the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at America’s leading colleges and universities." Founded at The College of William and...
.
He carried out his internship at the Mary Fletcher Hospital
Fletcher Allen Health Care
Fletcher Allen Health Care, together with its partners at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, is Vermont's academic medical center. Fletcher Allen target clientele are the one million people in Vermont and northern New York...
in Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
, and his residency
Residency (medicine)
Residency is a stage of graduate medical training. A resident physician or resident is a person who has received a medical degree , Podiatric degree , Dental Degree and who practices...
at the Women's Hospital
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, an academic affiliate of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, is a 1,076-bed, full-service community and tertiary care hospital serving New York City’s Midtown West, Upper West Side and parts of Harlem....
in New York. He then worked as Instructor of Anatomy at the University of Vermont College of Medicine for three years before becoming Lecturer in Anatomy at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, often known as P&S, is a graduate school of Columbia University that is located on the health sciences campus in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan...
in 1925 and then orthopedic resident at the New York Orthopaedic Hospital
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital is a prominent university hospital in New York City affiliated with two Ivy League medical schools: Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and Cornell University's Weill Medical College. It is composed of two distinct medical centers, Columbia...
in 1926.
After completing his residency in 1928 he worked in New York, holding staff appointments at St. Luke's Hospital, New York Polyclinic Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital
Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center
Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers ' was a healthcare system, anchored by its flagship hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, locally referred to as "St. Vincent's". St. Vincent's was founded in 1849 and closed in 2010...
, Seaview Hospital, the House of St. Giles the Cripple and Richmond Borough Hospital, in addition to being consultant to 22 hospitals. He became Visiting Professor at the University of Vermont in 1942, and was Professor at the New York Polyclinic Medical School and at Flower-Fifth Avenue Medical School. He was also Consultant Surgeon of the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
from 1945, Impartial Specialist to the New York Supreme Court
New York Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...
and the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
, and examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery
American Board of Medical Specialties
The American Board of Medical Specialties is a non-profit physician-led umbrella organization for 24 of the 26 approved medical specialty boards in the United States...
from 1940 to 1966.
Between 1930 and 1967 he published 94 papers, including work on bone and joint tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, including the introduction of streptomycin
Streptomycin
Streptomycin is an antibiotic drug, the first of a class of drugs called aminoglycosides to be discovered, and was the first antibiotic remedy for tuberculosis. It is derived from the actinobacterium Streptomyces griseus. Streptomycin is a bactericidal antibiotic. Streptomycin cannot be given...
for its treatment. He also published papers on surgery of the hip, spine
Vertebral column
In human anatomy, the vertebral column is a column usually consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae, and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. It is situated in the dorsal aspect of the torso, separated by intervertebral discs...
and shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
. He described the rare fibular fracture that bears his name in a 1947 series of 5 patients, still the largest series of this ankle
Ankle
The ankle joint is formed where the foot and the leg meet. The ankle, or talocrural joint, is a synovial hinge joint that connects the distal ends of the tibia and fibula in the lower limb with the proximal end of the talus bone in the foot...
injury. He was appointed to the Editorial Board and the Board of Trustees of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery refers to two distinct journals of the same name: Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, American Volume and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, British Volume...
, serving as Treasurer.
He was President of the American Orthopaedic Association in 1957, was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha
Alpha Omega Alpha
The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, commonly called Alpha Omega Alpha and abbreviated ΑΩΑ or AOA, is a national honor society for medical students, residents, scientists and physicians in the United States and Canada.-History:...
, and was awarded an honorary D.Sc.
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
by the University of Vermont in 1963. He was awarded membership of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, and became the only foreign recipient of the Second Order of the Sacred Treasure
Order of the Sacred Treasure
The is a Japanese Order, established on January 4, 1888 by Emperor Meiji of Japan as the Order of Meiji. It is awarded in eight classes . It is generally awarded for long and/or meritorious service and considered to be the lowest of the Japanese orders of merit...
in April 1968.