Otto Wilhelm Madelung
Encyclopedia
Otto Wilhelm Madelung was a German surgeon
who was a native of Gotha
.
In 1869 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Tübingen, and later worked in a military hospital during the Franco-Prussian War
. Afterwards he was a surgical assistant in Bonn
, and in 1873-74 was an assistant at the pathological
clinic of Georg Eduard von Rindfleisch
(1836-1908). In 1874 he visited Great Britain and the United States, and afterwards returned to Bonn, where he became an assistant professor of surgery in 1881. Later he became a professor of surgery at Rostock
(1882) and Strasbourg
(1894). After the French takeover of Strasbourg following World War I
, Madelung was relieved of his duties, and he subsequently retired to Göttingen
.
Otto Madelung is remembered for his work with an orthopedic disorder known as Madelung's deformity
, which is a progressive curvature of the radius
bone in the forearm
. This condition was earlier mentioned by Guillaume Dupuytren
in 1834, Auguste Nélaton
in 1847, and Joseph-François Malgaigne
in 1855, however Madelung was the first physician to provide a comprehensive, clinical description.
Madelung also described a benign form of lipomatosis
characterized by symmetrical deposits of adipose tissue in the area of the neck, shoulder girdle, arms, and upper trunk of the body. Today, this disorder goes by several names including "Benign symmetric lipomatosis
","Madelung's syndrome", and "Multiple symmetric lipomatosis". If the condition is confined to the neck, it is sometimes referred to by the eponym "Madelung's neck".
Madelung specialized in abdominal surgery, and is known for his pioneer work with intestinal anastomoses and laparotomy
.
His son, physicist
Erwin Madelung
discovered the Madelung constant
.
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
who was a native of Gotha
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
.
In 1869 he received his medical doctorate from the University of Tübingen, and later worked in a military hospital during the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
. Afterwards he was a surgical assistant in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, and in 1873-74 was an assistant at the pathological
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
clinic of Georg Eduard von Rindfleisch
Eduard von Rindfleisch
Georg Eduard von Rindfleisch was a German pathologist who was a native of Köthen . He studied medicine in Würzburg and Berlin, earning his doctorate in 1859. After attaining his degree he was an assistant to Rudolf Virchow, and later practiced medicine in Breslau, Zurich and Bonn...
(1836-1908). In 1874 he visited Great Britain and the United States, and afterwards returned to Bonn, where he became an assistant professor of surgery in 1881. Later he became a professor of surgery at Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
(1882) and Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
(1894). After the French takeover of Strasbourg following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Madelung was relieved of his duties, and he subsequently retired to Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
.
Otto Madelung is remembered for his work with an orthopedic disorder known as Madelung's deformity
Madelung's deformity
Madelung's deformity is usually characterized by malformed wrists and wrist bones and short stature and is often associated with Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis...
, which is a progressive curvature of the radius
Radius (bone)
The radius is one of the two large bones of the forearm, the other being the ulna. It extends from the lateral side of the elbow to the thumb side of the wrist and runs parallel to the ulna, which exceeds it in length and size. It is a long bone, prism-shaped and slightly curved longitudinally...
bone in the forearm
Forearm
-See also:*Forearm flexors*Forearm muscles...
. This condition was earlier mentioned by Guillaume Dupuytren
Guillaume Dupuytren
Guillaume Dupuytren, Baron was a French anatomist and military surgeon. Although he gained much esteem for treating Napoleon Bonaparte's hemorrhoids, he is best known today for Dupuytren's contracture which is named after him and which he described in 1831.- Birth and education :Guillaume...
in 1834, Auguste Nélaton
Auguste Nélaton
Auguste Nélaton was a French physician and surgeon. Born at Paris, he began studying medicine in 1828 and was graduated as an M.D. in 1836 with a thesis on the effects of tuberculosis on the bones. Three years later, he became a professor at the Hôpital St. Louis with a habilitation on breast tumors...
in 1847, and Joseph-François Malgaigne
Joseph-François Malgaigne
Joseph-François Malgaigne was a French surgeon and medical historian born in Charmes-sur-Moselle, Vosges....
in 1855, however Madelung was the first physician to provide a comprehensive, clinical description.
Madelung also described a benign form of lipomatosis
Lipomatosis
Lipomatosis is a hereditary condition where multiple lipomas are present on the body. Many discrete, encapsulated lipomas form on the trunk and extremities, with relatively few on the head and shoulders...
characterized by symmetrical deposits of adipose tissue in the area of the neck, shoulder girdle, arms, and upper trunk of the body. Today, this disorder goes by several names including "Benign symmetric lipomatosis
Benign symmetric lipomatosis
Benign symmetric lipomatosis is a cutaneous condition characterized by extensive symmetric fat deposits in the head, neck, and shoulder girdle area...
","Madelung's syndrome", and "Multiple symmetric lipomatosis". If the condition is confined to the neck, it is sometimes referred to by the eponym "Madelung's neck".
Madelung specialized in abdominal surgery, and is known for his pioneer work with intestinal anastomoses and laparotomy
Laparotomy
A laparotomy is a surgical procedure involving a large incision through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity. It is also known as coeliotomy.- Terminology :...
.
His son, physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
Erwin Madelung
Erwin Madelung
Erwin Madelung was a German physicist.He was born in 1881 in Bonn. His father was the surgeon Otto Wilhelm Madelung. He earned a doctorate in 1905 from the University of Göttingen, specializing in crystal structure, and eventually became a professor...
discovered the Madelung constant
Madelung constant
The Madelung constant is used in determining the electrostatic potential of a single ion in a crystal by approximating the ions by point charges. It is named after Erwin Madelung, a German physicist....
.