Name: Baron Guillaume Dupuytren Dates: Oct 5th 1777 - Feb 8th 1835 Nationality: French Place of Birth: the village of Pierre-Buffière, near Limoges Last Post: Professor Hotel Dieu Paris Claim to fame: Contracture of the Palmar Aponeurosis Trauma and Pathology: Dupuytrens Fracture 1819 and The Treatment and Formation of Callaus Orthopaedics: Subungual Exostosis 1817 and Congenital Dislocation of the Hip 1826

A remarkable surgeon who produced a prolific amount of literature, which was exquisitely detailed and beautifully written.

He was born in central France, the son of a poor lawyer, although it is hard to believe that such a creature exists. Allegedly kidnapped by a rich Tolousian Lady on account of his handsomeness. He was eventually rescued and sent to Paris where a cavalry officer educated him. He studied very hard at medicine and became Surgeon in Chief at the Hotel Dieu aged only 36. Notorious for building a huge private practice of approximately 10,000 patients a year. However, by many accounts he was fairly self opinionated, mean and somewhat pompous.

After describing Subungual Exostosis in 1817 he went on to Congenital Dislocation of the hip in 1826 and followed up with palmar Aponeurosis in 1832. In 1816, he described a fracture of the distal fibula and ruptured ligaments, with dislocation of the foot upwards and outwards (published in 1819). His articles and papers are certainly worth reading if you want to know how to take a real history from a patient.

His statue stands in the Hotel Dieu Paris and is the target for colourful facelifts and regular painting from the medical students during rag week.