Giovanni Battista Monteggia
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Battista Monteggia (1762–1815) was an Italian surgeon. Monteggia fracture
is named for him.
. He got his doctorate of medicine in 1789 at University of Pavia
. In the same year, his first book, Fasciculi Pathologici, was published. From 1790 he practiced as a surgical assistant, prosector
, and prison doctor. In 1795 he was appointed professor of anatomy and surgery, holding a chair of Istituzioni Chirurgiche at University of Pavia. Due to cutting himself during an autopsy
, he infected himself with syphilis
.
Monteggia was first to describe the Monteggia fracture
, a fracture of the proximal third of the ulna with the dislocation of the head of radius.
Monteggia fracture
The Monteggia fracture is a fracture of the ulna that affects the joint with the radius. More precisely, it is a fracture of the proximal third of the ulna with dislocation of the head of the radius...
is named for him.
Biography
He began training as a surgeon at age seventeen in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. He got his doctorate of medicine in 1789 at University of Pavia
University of Pavia
The University of Pavia is a university located in Pavia, Lombardy, Italy. It was founded in 1361 and is organized in 9 Faculties.-History:...
. In the same year, his first book, Fasciculi Pathologici, was published. From 1790 he practiced as a surgical assistant, prosector
Prosector
A prosector is a person with the special task of preparing a dissection for demonstration, usually in medical schools or hospitals. Many important anatomists began their careers as prosectors working for lecturers and demonstrators in anatomy and pathology....
, and prison doctor. In 1795 he was appointed professor of anatomy and surgery, holding a chair of Istituzioni Chirurgiche at University of Pavia. Due to cutting himself during an autopsy
Autopsy
An autopsy—also known as a post-mortem examination, necropsy , autopsia cadaverum, or obduction—is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate any disease or injury that may be present...
, he infected himself with syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
.
Monteggia was first to describe the Monteggia fracture
Monteggia fracture
The Monteggia fracture is a fracture of the ulna that affects the joint with the radius. More precisely, it is a fracture of the proximal third of the ulna with dislocation of the head of the radius...
, a fracture of the proximal third of the ulna with the dislocation of the head of radius.