Thomas-type leg splint, Europe, 1901-1920

Made:
1901-1920 in Europe
Thomas' leg splint, 1901-1920 Thomas' leg splint, 1901-1920

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Thomas' leg splint, 1901-1920
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Thomas' leg splint, 1901-1920
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Thomas' leg splint, 1901-1920

Originally used for hip diseases, the Thomas-type splint was designed to keep the leg still if it was broken and could be used for single and multiple fractures. Invented some years before the conflict by Hugh Owen Thomas (1834–1891), a pioneering British orthopaedic surgeon, the splint was used widely during the First World War.

The splint is made from a canvas covered iron frame. Thomas-type splints were ideally used shortly after the injury had occurred and they greatly reduced the death rate from fractures.

Details

Category:
Orthopaedics
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A603124
Materials:
frame, iron, covering (frame), cotton and straps, canvas
Measurements:
overall: 834 mm x 74 mm, 84 mm,
type:
thomas splint