From circumferential wiring to miniaturized plates and screws: the history of osteosynthesis of the mandible (with special reference to Dr. A. Lambotte)

Operative treatment of long bones and jaw fractures was occasionally proposed during the nineteenth century; essentially, direct suturing of the bony fragments by wire suturing was advocated. It is only since work carried out by Sir Arbuthnot Lane but mainly by Lambotte (about 1906) that the technique of osteosynthesis (the term osteosynthesis was created by Lambotte, Lamertin, Bruxelles) has been organized according to principles which consider mechanical as well as biological concepts. A historical review is presented of the various methods which have been proposed to obtain osteosynthesis of the mandible, both before the time of Lambotte and since the introduction by Lambotte of the sound principles of osteosynthesis.