Earliest times before hip arthroplasty: from John Rhea Barton to Themistocles Glück

Over the last two centuries, treatment of hip pathology has evolved from joint excision and osteotomies to modern total hip arthroplasty (THA), which is considered one of the most successful surgical interventions ever developed. We here review the history of hip procedures that preceded Themistocles Glück. This evaluation reminds us of the ephemeral nature of human industriousness and how medical research and procedures are not isolated developments but correlate to the social, economical, and cultural framework of their time.