LETTERS FROM

A LETTER FROM 2011 , Italy The History

of Rizzoli 100 ) (Goldmund Luca Volpi by: Image Orthopaedic Institute

– Written by Stefano Zaffagnini, Giulio M Marcheggiani Muccioli, A Grassi, M Marcacci, Italy been partially maintained to the present 1896 under King Umberto I, the leadership day. During the following centuries, the of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute was complex underwent several renewals, in entrusted to Alessandro Codivilla, with accordance with the tastes of the periods. the aim of treating rickets and congenital As a result, the actual shape of the Rizzoli deformities. As the first director of Rizzoli, complex has been determined by the hands Codivilla (1861-1912), is thus considered the of many different architects from different founder of modern orthopaedics in Italy. historical periods with different tastes, Patients from all over Italy and even South each undertaking architectural additions. America travelled to Bologna to receive Despite its varied stylistic history, the Rizzoli medical treatment for a large number of complex is historically placed in the 16th orthopaedic pathologies and deformities, at The Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute hospital century, when the most representative the beginning of the 20th century. was founded in the 19th century by a local structures were built – the church, bell tower surgeon, Francesco Rizzoli, who purchased and cloisters. Vittorio Putti (1880-1940) succeeded Codivilla the monastic monumental complex of in leading the institute and elevated the San Michele in Bosco, situated on the hills The enviable value of the architectural and name of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute south of Bologna, Italy. Rizzoli donated the artistic heritage of the monastery is well beyond national borders. During his profes- monastic complex to the city of Bologna to exemplified by three structures that span sional life, Putti improved the prestige allow the creation of a hospital specialising 4 centuries. These include the octagonal of the Rizzoli Institute by founding the in orthopaedic . cloister by Ludovico, Paolo Carracci and Rizzoli Workshop in 1914, and the Codivilla Guido Reni (built between 1602 and Heliotherapy Institute in Cortina d’Ampezzo The history of the monumental complex 1603), the monks’ ex-refectory adorned in 1923. Putti was a brilliant mind in the began several centuries ago, as the current by Giorgio Vasari in 1539 and the superb field of scientific research, creating dramatic complex was built on previous monastic library, frescoed in 1600 by Domenico innovations in the treatment of ankylosis, settlements dating back to the 4th Maria Canuti. congenital hip dysplasia, post-traumatic century AD. After almost 10 centuries, the deformities and limb-lengthening, to monastery entered a new phase when, in The Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute presents name a few. The journal Chirurgia degli 1364, Pope Urban V allowed the settlement a unique example of a union between the organi del movimento (currently known as of the Olivetan monks. These monks began hospital’s history and the development of Musculoskeletal Surgery) was founded in construction of a new monastery, which has orthopaedics in Italy. After its foundation in 1917 as a result of Putti’s work.

434 Figure 1 (above): View of the Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute Library. Figure 2 (right): Cover of the first number of the “American Journal of ” printed in 1903.

In 1936, during the Bologna Congress, their first issue (Figure 2). Online, the library the Société Internationale de Chirurgie has up to 7,000 journals. Included in the Orthopedique (SICO) became the Société special collection of the Putti Donation are The hospital Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopedique 2,457 ancient books of , including et Traumatologie (SICOT), with Putti as 17 manuscripts and 258 16th century has 327 beds, its first vice-chairman. In recognition books. Examples of these rare books include of the importance of Putti in the field Mandino’s Anatomia (1493) (Figure 3), De with 154 medical of orthopaedics and traumatology, Humani Corporis Fabrica (1543) (Figure 4) doctors employed the New England Journal of Medicine and L’Orthopaedie by M Andry (1741) – the commemorated Putti upon his death in inventor of the word ‘orthopaedics’. that annually 1940, stating that he had developed the In 1948, the institute was recognised most well-known orthopaedic centre in as a first-class specialised hospital for perform more the world. Putti donated to the hospital his orthopaedics and traumatology. Throu- than 12,000 precious book collection that, combined ghout the 1960s and 1970s, Rizzoli followed with the library of the institute, make the the scientific and healthcare progress and Rizzoli library an extraordinary place that made in orthopaedics, characte-rised by each orthopaedic surgeon should visit once the introduction of cemented hip joint more than in his or her lifetime. arthroplasty (Charlney, 1960) and the 115,000 medical stabilisation and diffusion of the principles The library (Figure 1) has 1,095 journals of rigid bone fixation (Müller, Allgöver and visits currently on its shelves, most beginning at Willenegger, 1963).

435 LETTERS FROM

Figue 3 (above): Illustation of the Mandino’s Anatomia book (1493). Figure 4 (above right): Front page of the Andrea Vesalii’s “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” (1543).

The hospital has 327 beds, with 154 medical offices. In addition, the hospital is a Acknowledgement doctors employed. Annually, more than recognised ESSKA and ISAKOS technology Rizzoli Orthopeadic Institute staff: 12,000 surgeries and more than 115,000 centre. Scientific Director: Professor Francesco medical visits are performed. Hip and knee Antonio Manzoli arthroplasty are the most common forms The Rizzoli Institute is a place of great General Director: Dr. Giovanni Baldi of surgery performed at Rizzoli Orthopaedic significance in the orthopaedic world, Institute, involving around 20% of patients. which young and expert surgeons should Library Staff: Dr. Patrizia Tomba, Dr. Anna Viganò In addition, in recent decades, Rizzoli has seek to visit and experience, as this is one of made important progress both in scientific the temples of orthopaedics. Carisbo Foundation research and in the diagnosis and treatment of tumours of the musculoskeletal system. Stefano Zaffagnini M.D. As such, it has become an important Giulio Maria Marcheggiani Muccioli, M.D. international centre in the field of sports medicine and regenerative medicine. There Alberto Grassi, M.D. Further reading are also 300 researchers employed by the Maurilio Marcacci Ph.D. institute, producing around 300 articles 1. Charnley J. Anchorage of the femoral per year in international journals. In 1981, head prosthesis to the shaft of the femur. J 2nd Orthopaedic and Traumathologic Rizzoli was recognised by ministerial Bone Joint Surg Br 1960; 42:28-30. Clinic – Biomechanics Lab decree as a Scientific Research Hospital, and 2. Muller ME, Allgover M, Willenegger Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute enhanced by the addition of the Codivilla- H. Technik der operative frakturen Bologna, Italy Putti Research Centre, which houses seven behandlung. Springer, Berlin-Heilelberg- research laboratories and administration New York, 1963. Contact: [email protected]

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