Bone Doctor

Sir Reginald Watson-Jones (1902–1972). British orthopaedic surgeon. Knighted in 1945. Surgeon to British monarchs.
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During World War II, his rehabilitation programs returned 95% of injured Royal Air Force airmen to active duty. He held executive positions in nearly every major UK surgical society and refused to admit he had ever reached retirement age. He died in his sleep on August 9, 1972. His textbook still sits on orthopaedic shelves.
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A short tribute to one of the founding figures of modern fracture care.
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Comment "Fracture" for link to view/download Fractures And Joint Injuries (Vol. I, 4th Edition, 1952)

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Sir Reginald Watson-Jones >> youtube.com/shorts/sTbTLOTnPq...

5 days ago | [YT] | 28

Bone Doctor

The Watson-Jones classification of tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures, still taught in orthopaedic residency programs nearly a century after he described it.
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Type I: small avulsion of the secondary ossification center, distal to the joint line.
Type II: larger fragment hinged at the proximal tibial epiphysis.
Type III: complete fracture extending through the epiphysis into the knee joint.
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The framework Watson-Jones established in his 1940 textbook Fractures and Joint Injuries has been refined by later authors as imaging has improved, but the core system remains in clinical use today when an orthopaedic surgeon evaluates an injured young athlete.
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When was the last time you saw a Type III in clinic?

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History of Watson-Jones Classification >> corycalendinemd.com/watson-jones

6 days ago | [YT] | 48

Bone Doctor

The Watson-Jones anterolateral approach to the hip. Described in the 1930s. Still in active surgical use today.
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The approach passes through the muscle interval between the gluteus medius and the tensor fasciae latae, providing access to the hip joint without violating major muscle attachments. It remains a workhorse exposure for hip fracture fixation, hemiarthroplasty, and select hip replacements.
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Orthopaedic residents still learn it. ORs still stock the retractors named for it. And the modern direct anterior hip replacement evolved from the same muscle-sparing principle Watson-Jones championed nearly a century ago.
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Which hip approach did you trade for the anterior, or are you still using Watson-Jones in select cases?

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More information >> corycalendinemd.com/watson-jones

6 days ago | [YT] | 26

Bone Doctor

"The Black Prince."
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That was what his trainees called Sir Reginald Watson-Jones (1902–1972), for his penetrating dark eyes and commanding presence in the operating room. By his obituary's account, the nickname suited him.
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He kept a limousine with a chauffeur, a butler, a personal secretary, and an office staff of five. He served as orthopaedic surgeon to King George VI and as Extra Orthopaedic Surgeon to Queen Elizabeth II. He wrote the textbook surgeons of his era simply called "the bible," and founded the journal we are all still reading.
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A short tribute to one of the founding figures of modern orthopaedics >> youtube.com/shorts/sTbTLOTnPq...
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Who do you think of as the modern equivalent — the surgeon whose presence shaped the room?

1 week ago | [YT] | 18

Bone Doctor

🦴 NEW ARTICLE: Top 5 Mistakes After Hip Replacement

After 20+ years performing hip replacement surgery in Franklin, TN, the patients who recover fastest aren't the youngest or the strongest. They're the ones who avoid the same five mistakes during the first 12 weeks.

Here's the short list:

1️⃣ Skipping physical therapy
2️⃣ Doing too much too soon
3️⃣ Ignoring hip precautions at home
4️⃣ Stopping medications early
5️⃣ Falling at home

None of these happen on purpose. All of them are avoidable.

In the new article on the blog, I break down each mistake, why it derails recovery, and exactly what to do instead — including when to call your surgical team, how long hip precautions really last, and when you can safely drive again.

📖 Read the full article: corycalendinemd.com/blog/top-5-mistakes-after-hip-…

Direct Anterior Hip Replacement Surgery >> https://youtu.be/HVExH2SRFbQ

If you or a loved one is preparing for hip replacement, share this with them. The patients who plan their recovery before surgery day consistently do better than the ones who figure it out afterward.

1 week ago | [YT] | 10

Bone Doctor

The Thomas Splint — How a 150-Year-Old Device Still Saves Lives
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A fractured femur is one of the most dangerous injuries in trauma medicine.
When the femoral shaft breaks, the body's most powerful muscles contract violently — pulling bone fragments together, shearing blood vessels, and causing the displacement and hemorrhage that lead to shock. Before the twentieth century, a battlefield femur fracture was often a death sentence.
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The Thomas Splint changed that.
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Designed in 1875 by Welsh physician Hugh Owen Thomas, this elegantly simple device applies continuous longitudinal traction against a padded ring seated at the ischial tuberosity. The mechanism counteracts muscle contraction, stabilizes the fracture, reduces bleeding, and relieves pain — all without electricity, a sterile environment, or specialized training. It can be applied in minutes by two people in an emergency room, an ambulance, or a combat zone.
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The splint's impact became undeniable during World War I. Prior to its widespread adoption, mortality from battlefield femur fractures approached 80 percent. After Sir Robert Jones — nephew of the inventor and Inspector of Military Orthopaedics for the British Army — mandated its use across the Western Front in 1916, that figure dropped to approximately 16 percent. By 1917, the Thomas Splint was standard issue to army medical teams. It remained in wide use through World War II and continues to be essential trauma equipment today.

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LEARN MORE >> youtube.com/shorts/q1m0QbDCa00

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 62

Bone Doctor

A Crisis That Demanded An Answer
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Post-war America faced a polio crisis. Children survived the virus only to watch their spines collapse from neuromuscular scoliosis. Braces, casts, and bed rest weren't enough.
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In Houston, a young orthopedic surgeon named Paul Randall Harrington refused to accept the limits of existing treatment. Two early patients died. He kept going. In his words, the polio epidemic "provided the necessary impetus for the creative ingenuity that culminated in the development of the Harrington rod."
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More about the Father of Modern Spine Instrumentation >> youtube.com/shorts/ij7XtqLIKK...

#ScoliosisAwareness #OrthopedicHistory #HarringtonRod #SpineSurgery

1 month ago | [YT] | 41

Bone Doctor

Sir Astley Cooper (1768-1841) operated before anesthesia, before antiseptic technique, and before surgery was recognized as a true medical profession. Yet he became the most celebrated surgeon of his era, serving as Sergeant Surgeon to three British monarchs and earning the Royal Society's Copley Medal.

His anatomical discoveries still carry his name in operating rooms today. Cooper's ligaments. Cooper's fascia. Cooper's pubic ligament. He pioneered carotid artery ligation and performed the first abdominal aortic ligation in 1817.

Two centuries later, his words still define why we operate. The technical skill matters. The commitment to the patient matters more. #medicalhistory #respect Have a great week!

2 months ago | [YT] | 30

Bone Doctor

Subvastus Knee Replacement: A Muscle-Sparing Approach to Faster Recovery

If knee pain is slowing you down, you deserve more than just a solution — you deserve the right approach.

Full Video: https://youtu.be/mQgOA8TRGBs

In his latest article, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Cory Calendine explains the Subvastus approach to knee replacement: a specialized surgical technique designed to work beneath the quadriceps muscle rather than cutting through it — preserving the tissue your recovery depends on most.

At the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in Franklin, TN, Dr. Calendine offers this advanced approach for patients seeking a faster, more comfortable return to the activities they love.
✅ Quadriceps muscle preserved — not cut
✅ Designed for quicker strength return and rehabilitation
✅ Performed by a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon

Whether you're researching your options or ready to take the next step toward a pain-free life, this article is the place to start.

📖 Read the full article:
corycalendinemd.com/post/muscle-sparing-knee-replacement-surgery
📞 Schedule a consultation at our Franklin, TN office — or request an appointment online today.

2 months ago | [YT] | 69

Bone Doctor

Partial Knee Replacement: Is It the Right Option for You?
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Not every knee requires a total replacement — and knowing the difference could change everything about your recovery.

Full Video: https://youtu.be/mQgOA8TRGBs

In his latest article, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Cory Calendine breaks down partial knee replacement: what makes it different from total knee replacement, which patients are the best candidates, and why preserving your healthy tissue matters for long-term outcomes.

At the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in Franklin, TN, Dr. Calendine takes a personalized approach to every patient — recommending surgery only when it's the right solution, and choosing the most precise technique when it is.
✅ Only the damaged compartment is replaced — healthy tissue is preserved
✅ Smaller incision, less bone removal, faster rehabilitation
✅ Ideal for patients with isolated knee arthritis in one compartment
✅ Performed by a fellowship-trained, board-certified orthopedic surgeon

If knee arthritis is limiting your life, understanding all your options is the first step toward getting back to the activities you love.

📖 Read the full article:
corycalendinemd.com/post/partial-knee-replacement-how-is-it-different

📞 Schedule a consultation at our Franklin, TN office — or request an appointment online today.

2 months ago | [YT] | 67