Fred H. Albee
Encyclopedia
Fred Houdlette Albee was a surgeon who invented bone grafting
and other advances in orthopedic surgery as a surgical treatment. He was also one of the fathers of rehabilitative medicine, a pioneer in physical, psychological and occupational rehabilitation. As a result of his discoveries, untold numbers of injured, crippled and disfigured persons were able to overcome trauma that had previously been untreatable.
, on a Friday the 13th, and learned how to do tree grafting
from his uncle, Charles Houdlette. He later applied the principles of grafting, and guarding a tree from outside disruptions, to his bone grafting operations. Though he was a hard worker on the farm, he was fascinated by medicine. When he was 16, Albee was sent to the Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Maine, and furthered his education. He worked his way through Bowdoin College
and got a job as a laboratory assistant to Bowdoin's professor of bacteriology
. He also worked hard to get one of the two scholarships offered by the Harvard University School of Medicine
.
At Harvard, Albee assisted Dr. Richard Cabot
in the study of the measurement of blood pressure, and in his fourth year, Albee was one of the few medical students chosen to be a prosector
, which gave him the privilege of assisting Dr. Maurice Richardson, the professor of surgery, during operations. Upon obtaining his M.D., Dr. Albee interned at Massachusetts General Hospital
. After a brief general practice, he became an assistant orthopedic surgeon at the New York Postgraduate Medical School Clinic
. When Dr. Charles Ogilvy retired, Dr. Albee became the chief surgeon.
for infected vertebrae. He perfected his techniques including the classification of bone types, and in 1912, invented the "Albee Bone Mill", a power driven machine that reduced the time needed for a bone graft to as little as ten minutes. As a result, he was able to restore mobility to children in England who had been crippled by tuberculosis and other bone illnesses.
Dr. Albee's pioneering discoveries in medicine came just before the First World War. Prior to the development of Dr. Albee's methods, the primary treatment for a soldier's seriously fractured limb had been amputation
because of the need to prevent the spread of infection. The German Orthopedic Surgical Congress had invited Albee to present his techniques in April 1914, and Dr. Albee worked in Allied military hospitals close to the Front, so his work prevented countless amputated limbs on both sides of the war. Dr. Albee's 1915 textbook, Bone Graft Surgery, came out as the War ended its second year.
At least 70 percent of war wounds in World War One were orthopedic injuries. Upon his return to the United States in 1917, Dr. Albee emphasized the need for immediate preparation for a medical emergency. With the cooperation of the War Department
and the United States Surgeon General, William C. Gorgas
, Dr. Albee was given free rein to open "United States Hospital Number 3", at Colonia, New Jersey
, as the first purely orthopedic hospital. It was at that time that Dr. Albee implemented a program for physical, psychological and occupational rehabilitation of wounded soldiers. The United States government allocated the sum of $3,500,000 for the program to be operational by 1918. Dr. Albee would note later, "I was privileged to perform approximately half of all the bone-graft operations done in the First World War." Its post-war work done, the Colonia hospital closed in October, 1919, and Dr. Albee turned his energies toward the peacetime treatment of injured workers. He lobbied for creation of the New Jersey Commission for Rehabilitation and served as its Chairman for 23 years. During the 1930s, he made frequent trips to South America to further the use of orthopedic and rehabilitation techniques.
Bone grafting
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure that replaces missing bone in order to repair bone fractures that are extremely complex, pose a significant health risk to the patient, or fail to heal properly....
and other advances in orthopedic surgery as a surgical treatment. He was also one of the fathers of rehabilitative medicine, a pioneer in physical, psychological and occupational rehabilitation. As a result of his discoveries, untold numbers of injured, crippled and disfigured persons were able to overcome trauma that had previously been untreatable.
Early life and education
Albee was born on a farm in the township of Alna, MaineAlna, Maine
Alna is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 675 at the 2000 census. Home to the Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum, Alna includes the early mill village of Head Tide, noted for its historic architecture.-History:...
, on a Friday the 13th, and learned how to do tree grafting
Grafting
Grafting is a horticultural technique whereby tissues from one plant are inserted into those of another so that the two sets of vascular tissues may join together. This vascular joining is called inosculation...
from his uncle, Charles Houdlette. He later applied the principles of grafting, and guarding a tree from outside disruptions, to his bone grafting operations. Though he was a hard worker on the farm, he was fascinated by medicine. When he was 16, Albee was sent to the Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Maine, and furthered his education. He worked his way through Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
and got a job as a laboratory assistant to Bowdoin's professor of bacteriology
Bacteriology
Bacteriology is the study of bacteria. This subdivision of microbiology involves the identification, classification, and characterization of bacterial species...
. He also worked hard to get one of the two scholarships offered by the Harvard University School of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
.
At Harvard, Albee assisted Dr. Richard Cabot
Richard Clarke Cabot
Richard Clarke Cabot was an American physician who advanced clinical hematology, was an innovator in teaching methods, and was a pioneer in social work.-Family History:...
in the study of the measurement of blood pressure, and in his fourth year, Albee was one of the few medical students chosen to be a prosector
Prosector
A prosector is a person with the special task of preparing a dissection for demonstration, usually in medical schools or hospitals. Many important anatomists began their careers as prosectors working for lecturers and demonstrators in anatomy and pathology....
, which gave him the privilege of assisting Dr. Maurice Richardson, the professor of surgery, during operations. Upon obtaining his M.D., Dr. Albee interned at Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital and biomedical research facility in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts...
. After a brief general practice, he became an assistant orthopedic surgeon at the New York Postgraduate Medical School Clinic
New York University School of Medicine
The New York University School of Medicine is one of the graduate schools of New York University. Founded in 1841 as the University Medical College, the NYU School of Medicine is one of the foremost medical schools in the United States....
. When Dr. Charles Ogilvy retired, Dr. Albee became the chief surgeon.
Career
In 1906, Dr. Albee performed his first successful bone-grafting operation, reducing hip pain for a rheumatism sufferer. The results attracted such wide attention that other surgeons soon consulted with Dr. Albee to duplicate the results. In 1911, Dr. Albee discovered a method for using bone instead of metal to perform a spinal fusionSpinal fusion
Spinal fusion, also known as spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis, is a surgical technique used to join two or more vertebrae. Supplementary bone tissue, either from the patient or a donor , is used in conjunction with the body's natural bone growth processes to fuse the vertebrae.Fusing of the...
for infected vertebrae. He perfected his techniques including the classification of bone types, and in 1912, invented the "Albee Bone Mill", a power driven machine that reduced the time needed for a bone graft to as little as ten minutes. As a result, he was able to restore mobility to children in England who had been crippled by tuberculosis and other bone illnesses.
Dr. Albee's pioneering discoveries in medicine came just before the First World War. Prior to the development of Dr. Albee's methods, the primary treatment for a soldier's seriously fractured limb had been amputation
Amputation
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma, prolonged constriction, or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventative surgery for...
because of the need to prevent the spread of infection. The German Orthopedic Surgical Congress had invited Albee to present his techniques in April 1914, and Dr. Albee worked in Allied military hospitals close to the Front, so his work prevented countless amputated limbs on both sides of the war. Dr. Albee's 1915 textbook, Bone Graft Surgery, came out as the War ended its second year.
At least 70 percent of war wounds in World War One were orthopedic injuries. Upon his return to the United States in 1917, Dr. Albee emphasized the need for immediate preparation for a medical emergency. With the cooperation of the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
and the United States Surgeon General, William C. Gorgas
William C. Gorgas
William Crawford Gorgas KCMG was a United States Army physician and 22nd Surgeon General of the U.S. Army...
, Dr. Albee was given free rein to open "United States Hospital Number 3", at Colonia, New Jersey
Colonia, New Jersey
Colonia Colonia Colonia (is a census-designated place and unincorporated area within Woodbridge Township, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the CDP population was 17,811....
, as the first purely orthopedic hospital. It was at that time that Dr. Albee implemented a program for physical, psychological and occupational rehabilitation of wounded soldiers. The United States government allocated the sum of $3,500,000 for the program to be operational by 1918. Dr. Albee would note later, "I was privileged to perform approximately half of all the bone-graft operations done in the First World War." Its post-war work done, the Colonia hospital closed in October, 1919, and Dr. Albee turned his energies toward the peacetime treatment of injured workers. He lobbied for creation of the New Jersey Commission for Rehabilitation and served as its Chairman for 23 years. During the 1930s, he made frequent trips to South America to further the use of orthopedic and rehabilitation techniques.
Published works
- Bone Graft Surgery (1915)
- Orthopedic and Reconstructional Surgery (1919)
- Orthopedic and reconstruction surgery, industrial and civilian
- Injuries and Diseases of the Hip (1937)
- Bone Graft Surgery in Disease, Injury, and Deformity (1940)
- A Surgeon's Fight to Rebuild Men: An Autobiography (1943)