File:Louisa Adelade Walters (SP 287), National Museum of Health and Medicine (3299242515).jpg

Louisa Adelade Walters (SP 287), National Museum of Health and Medicine

Description: Louisa Adelade Walters, showing the scars from the amputation of her hip joint.

History on reverse: "Photograph No. 287. The First Case of Hip Joint Amputation in the United States. Louisa Adelade Walters, a negro girl in her twelfth year, was operated on for morbus coxarius at the Moyamensing Alms-house in the year 1840. The operator, Dr. Washington Joseph Duffee, of Philadelphia, under date of January 28, 1868, communicates the following information relative to this case:--'As the frst step of the operation I secured the femoral artery by ligation as it emerged from under Ponport's ligament, then made two lateral flaps, and after removing the limb at the joint, the flaps were united by the free use of the interrupted suture, and the usual dressings of the day applied. Only six arteries required ligation--about two fluid ounces of blood being lost during the operation, which occupied nine minutes and two seconds, including bandaging, etc. In six weeks she was discharged, well, and has so remained until the present time. The head of the femur was entirely absorbed, yet the acctabulum presented a surface entirely free from disease. The woman has since married, and is now the mother of two children, one a mal, aged twelve years, the other a female, aged five years.' Photographed at the Army Medical Museum. By order of the Surgeon General: George A. Otis, Ass't Surg. U.S.A., Curator A.M.M.

Date: unknown

Photo ID: SP 287

Source collection: OHA 82: Surgical Photographs

Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives