Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Nicholas J. Giannestras (1908–1978): a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon, his work, life and times

  • Review Article
  • Published:
International Orthopaedics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of our study was to summarize all the knowledge concerning the innovative pioneer in the field of orthopaedic surgery, Nicholas J. Giannestras (1908–1978). A thorough study of texts, medical books and reports, in the field of history of medicine, together with a review of the available literature in PubMed, was undertaken. Giannestras left his mark in the history of orthopaedics with his clinical work and his publications, mainly his treatise “Foot Disorders: Medical and Surgical Management” (1973), while his name lingers in Greece with the introduction of spine fusion with the use of metallic implants. He was an eminent university clinical professor of orthopaedics who had harmonically combined academic writing, teaching and clinical research in every field of orthopaedic surgery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Directory TM (1914) Sampson and Murdock Company. Boston 219:442

    Google Scholar 

  2. [No authors listed] (1979) Nicholas J. Giannestras, M.D., 1909–1978. J Bone Joint Surg Am 61:472

    Google Scholar 

  3. Varvaroussis A (2001) History of orthopaedics. Parissianos Publications Ltd, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  4. The World of Women (1963) Mrs Gloria Iden Palm weds Dr Nicholas J Giannestras. Atken Standard and Review 20:2

  5. Ohio, Death Index, 1908–1932, 1938–1944, and 1958–2007. Index: FamilySearch: Nichola J Giannestras, 06 Jul 1978; from “Ohio, Deaths, 1908–1932, 1938–1944, and 1958–2007,” Index, Ancestry.com; citing vol. 23334, certificate number 050518, multiple archives. https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/VKYF-JC3. Accessed 30 Jun 2014.

  6. The Blade (1978) Nicholas Giannestras. The Blade, Toledo, Ohio, p 38

  7. Valavanis J (1997) Spine deformities: the non-surgical treatment. Konstantaras Publications, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  8. Giannestras NJ (1938) A turnbuckle lug for wedging jackets for scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg Am 20:1050–1052

    Google Scholar 

  9. Markatos K, Tsoucalas G, Kaseta M, Korres D, Androutsos G, Efstathopoulos N, Nikolaou J (2014) A review of the history of spine surgery in Greece until the middle of the 20th century. Res Hist Med 3(2):53–62

    Google Scholar 

  10. Smyrnis PN, Valavanis J, Alexopoulos A, Siderakis G, Giannestras NJ (1979) School screening for scoliosis in Athens. J Bone Joint Surg 61:215–217

    Google Scholar 

  11. Katsiadaki A, Cheila K (2006) Study of congenital abnormalities and diseases of the spine in children 6–12 years. Dissertation, Technological Educational Institute of Crete

  12. Grivas T (2000) Mass school preventive control of scoliosis. Pashalidis Publications, Athens

    Google Scholar 

  13. OhioFirms.us (2014) Companies in Ohio.http://ohiofirms.us/drs-nicholas-j-giannestras-and-john-c-schmerge-orthopedic-research. Accessed 21 July 2014.

  14. Bishop J, Kahn A 3rd, Turba JE (1980) Surgical correction of the splayfoot: the Giannestras procedure. Clin Orthop Relat Res 146:234–238

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Giannestras NJ (1977) Modified Niederecker’s operation. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 63:778

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Giannestras NJ (1977) Surgical correction of flatfoot in adolescents. Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot 63:766–770

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Giannestras NJ (1973) The congenital rigid flatfoot. Its recognition and treatment in infants. Orthop Clin North Am 4:49–66

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Giannestras NJ (1970) Recognition and treatment of flatfeet in infancy. Clin Orthop Relat Res 70:10–29

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Giannestras NJ (1972) Foot care: whither bound? Clin Orthop Relat Res 85:3–6

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Giannestras NJ (1970) Static deformities of the foot-editorial comment. Clin Orthop Relat Res 70:2–3

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Giannestras NJ (1995) Shortening of the metatarsal shaft in the treatment of plantar keratosis: an end-result study, 1958. Foot Ankle Int 16:529–534

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Giannestras NJ (1954) Shortening of the metatarsal shaft for the correction of plantar keratosis. Clin Orthop 4:225–231

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Giannestras NJ (1965) Displaced supracondylar fractures in children: method of treatment. Am J Orthop 7:92–100

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Giannestras NJ (1963) The current trends in the management of trauma. J Trauma 3:496–499

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Giannestras NJ (1957) Primary bone graft with pinning of intracapsular fractures of the femur. Am J Surg 93:588–596

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Giannestras NJ (1948) The Magnuson-Stack procedure for recurrent dislocations of the shoulder. Surgery 23:794–800

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Giannestras NJ, Cranley JJ, Lentz M (1977) Occlusion of the tibial artery after a foot operation under tourniquet: a case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 59:682–683

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Giannestras NJ, Bronson JL (1975) Malignant schwannoma of the medial plantar branch of the posterior tibial nerve (unassociated with von Recklinghausen’s disease). A case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 57:701–703

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Giannestras NJ, Mayfield FH, Provencio FP, Maurer J (1964) Congenital absence of the odontoid process. Case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 46:839–843

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Giannestras NJ, Diamond JR (1958) Benign osteoblastoma of the talus: a review of the literature and report of a case. J Bone Joint Surg Am 40:469–478

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Giannestras N (1954) Legg-Perthes disease in twins. J Bone Joint Surg Am 36:149–152

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Giannestras NJ (1973) Foot disorders: medical and surgical management, 2nd edn. Lea & Febiger, USA

  33. Bateman JE, Giannestras NJ, Trott AW, Jahss MH, Hammond G, Clayton ML, Christides SA, Joplin RJ, Swanson AB (1972) AOFS symposium on modern concepts of bunion surgery. Clin Orthop Relat Res 85:67–70

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Giannestras NJ (1978) Principles of bunion surgery. Orthop Rev 7:83–86

    Google Scholar 

  35. Giannestras NJ (1976) Flexible valgus flatfoot resulting from naviculocuneiform and talonavicular sag. Surgical correction in the adolescent. In: Foot science. WB Saunders, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  36. Giannestras NJ (1979) Hallux valgus and hallux rigidus. In: Salvat Editores (ed) Trastornos del Pie. Barcelona, 1979

  37. Giannestras NJ (1953) Dural and intradural compression as a cause of clubfoot. Clin Orthop 1:28–32

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Brand RA (2009) 50 years ago in CORR. Clin Orthop Relat Res 467:1385–1386

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Giannestras NJ (1968) US patent no. 3390675. United States Patent Office. July 2, 1968

  40. Kuhn P (1967) Petition for review of a decision of the workers compensation board. Commonwealth of Kentucky Court Of Appeals, No. 0808721.

  41. Giannestras NJ (1969) Pressure-cooker sports not for youngsters. Tonawanda News 13:2

    Google Scholar 

  42. Giannestras et al. (1975) Patent no. 3,872,519. United States Patent Office. Formal application: 25th March 1975

  43. Giannestras NJ (1977) Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Foot Society. N Engl J Med 3:580

    Google Scholar 

  44. Mattingly DA, Hopson CN, Kahn A 3rd, Giannestras NJ (1985) Aseptic loosening in metal-backed acetabular components for total hip replacement. A minimum five-year follow-up. J Bone Joint Surg Am 67:387–391

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Bean WB, Giannestras NJ, Lowenthal G (1948) Improved housing and slum eradication. Cinci J Med 29:271–275

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Giannestras NJ (1947) Periosteum for repair of fascial defects in the paratibial region of the leg: result of its transposition. Am J Surg 74:614–621

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. (No funds were received in support of this study. No benefits in any form have been or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this manuscript).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Konstantinos Markatos.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Markatos, K., Efstathopoulos, N., Kaseta, K.M. et al. Nicholas J. Giannestras (1908–1978): a distinguished orthopaedic surgeon, his work, life and times. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 39, 2297–2302 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-015-2946-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-015-2946-9

Keywords

Navigation