The 1970s – A joint revolution

Summary 

This article considers how the nature of orthopaedics changed from a focus on immobilisation and nursing care to specialised surgery. Problems of infection and thromboembolism were already a matter for concern, which increased with the increase in technological interventions. This article considers the development of joint surgery in the 1970s particularly hip arthroplasty and how the precursors of minimally invasive surgery were born through a personal account of experiences at the time.