25bc-50Celsus

Fragment from the treatise Celsus AC On Medicine (De Medicina, ca. 25-30). The author recommends specific treatment for the traumatic pathology of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF). See our commentary at the link: 25bc-50Celsus [Rus], and 2020ArkhipovSV_ProlyginaIV.

Quote.

[Lat]

Liber octavus. Cp. XX. De Femore luxato.

Magnum autem femori periculum est, ne vel difficulter reponatur, vel repositum rursus excidat. Quidam semper iterum excidere contendunt: sed Hippocrates, et Diocles, et Philotimus, et Nileus, et Heraclides Tarentinus, clari admodum auctores, ex toto se restituisse memoriae prodiderunt. Neque tot genera machinamentorum quoque, ad extendendum in hoc casu femur, Hippocrates, Andreas, Nileus, Nymphodorus, Protarchus, Heraclides, faber quoque quidam reperissent, si id frustra esset. Sed ut haec falsa opinio est; sic illud verum est: cum ibi valentissimi nervi musculique sint, si suum robur habent, vix admittere; si non habent, postea non continere.

Tentandum igitur est, et, si tenerius membrum est, satis est habenam alteram ab inguine, aiteram a genu intendi: si validius, melius adducent, qui easdem habenas ad valida bacula deligarint; cumque eorum fustium imas partes oppositae morae objecerint, superiores ad se utraque manu traxernt. Etiamnum valentius intenditur membrum super scamnum, cui ab utraque parte axes sunt, ad quos habenae illae deligantur: qui, ut in torcularibus, conversi, rumpere quoque, si quis perseveraverit, non solum extendere, nervos et musculos possunt.

Collocandus autem homo super id scamnum est, aut pronus, aut supinus, aut in latus, sic, ut semper ea pars superior sit, in quam os prolapsum est; ea etiam inferior, a qua recessit. Nervis extentis, si in priorem partem os venit, rotundum aliquid super inguen ponendum; subitoque super id genu adducendum est eodem modo, eademque de causa, qua idem in brachio fit; protinusque, si complicari femur potest, intus est.

In ceteris vero casibus, ubi ossa per vim paulum inter se recesserunt, medicus debet id, quod eminet, retro cogere; minister contra coxam propellere. Reposito osse, nihil novi aliud curatio requirit, quam ut diutius is in lecto detineatur; ne, si motum adhuc nervis laxioribus femur fuerit, rursus erumpat. (original source: 1831CelsusAC, Vol. 2, pp. 442-444) + Potest tamen conditus articulus medius aut summus canaliculo, aliquo contineri. (original source: 1713CelsusAC, p. 555)

Translation

[Eng]

Book VIII. Chap. XX. Luxation of the Femur.

But the greatest danger is, in a luxation of the femur, lest there be a difficulty in replacing it, or, when reduced, it may slip out again. Some maintain that it always does so, but Hippocrates, Diocles, Philotinus, Nileus, and Heraclides the Tarentine, all very celebrated authors, have asserted that they have effected a perfect cure. Neither would Hippocrates, Andreas, Nileus, Nymphodorus, Protarcchus, Heraclides, and also a certain mechanician, have invented so many kinds of machines for extending the femur in this case, if it had been to no purpose. But as this opinion is false, so is the other true; since the ligaments and muscles there being very powerful, scarcely admit of reduction, if they retain their natural strength: if they do not, the femur cannot be maintained in its place, after it has been veduced.

Therefore it must be tried, and if the limb be tender, it will be sufficient for one strap to be extended from the groin, and another from the knee; if the person be muscular, the extension will be made better, by attaching these Straps to strong sticks, placing the lower end of these sticks against a fulcrum, and pulling the upper ends with both hands. The extension of the limb may be still more powerfully effected by placing it on a bench, with pulleys at each end, to which these straps are made fast; these being turned in the manner of a wine-press, they will not only extend the limb, but even rupture the ligaments and muscles, should the operator persevere.

Now the patient is to be placed on this bench, either prone or supine, or upon his side, provided that the part to which the bone has been impelled be always uppermost, and that from which it has slipped, the lowermost. The ligaments being put upon the stretch, if the bone be dislocated anteriorly, some rounded body is to be placed upon the groin, and the knee is to be drawn suddenly towards the abdomen in the same way, and for the same reason, that is directed for a luxation of the arm; and if the femur can be flexed, it will be immediately reduced.

But in the other accidents, where the bones have receded a little from each other by violence, the physician ought to force that back which projects, and an assistant should impel the pelvis in a contrary direction. The bone being replaced, the subsequent treatment requires nothing additional, except that the patient be detained in bed for a longer period, lest the femur being moved whilst the ligaments are yet very relaxed, it may again slip out. (original source: 1831CelsusAC, Vol. 2, pp. 442-444) + However, the reduced joint can be fixed with a medium or deep groove. (our translation of the final sentence of the paragraph from 1713CelsusAC, p. 555)

External links

Celsus AC. De medicina libri octo. Brevioribus Rob. Constntini, IS. Casauboni Aliorum que Scholiis ac locis parallelis illustrati. Cura c Studio TH. J. ae ALMELOVEEN… Amstelædami: Apud J. Wolters, 1713. [archive.org]

Celsus AC. On medicine, in eight books, Latin and English. Translated from L. Targa's edition, the words of the text being arranged in the order of construction. To which are prefixed, a life of the author, tables of weights and measures, with explanatory notes, etc. designed to facilitate the progress of medical students. By Alex. Lee, A.M., Surg. In two volumes. London: E. Cox, MDCCCXXXI [1831]. [archive.org1 , archive.org2]

Authors & Affiliations

Aulus Cornelius Celsus (ca. 25 BC – ca. 50) was a Roman encyclopaedist. [wikipedia.org]

Aulus Cornelius Celsus
Engraving from Acta Medicorum Berolinensium, in Incrementum Artis & Scientiarum collecta & digesta. Volume IV. Berlin: Gottfried Gedicke, 1719;
original in the wikimedia.org collection (CC0 – public domain, no changed).

Keywords

ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, synonym, dislocation, treatment, pathology, damage, Celsus

NB! Fair practice / use: copied for the purposes of criticism, review, comment, research and private study in accordance with Copyright Laws of the US: 17 U.S.C. §107; Copyright Law of the EU: Dir. 2001/29/EC, art.5/3a,d; Copyright Law of the RU: ГК РФ ст.1274/1.1-2,7

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ANCIENT MENTIONS

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THE GIFTS OF THE MAGI FOR ORTHOPEDIC SURGEONS

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2018YoussefAO

Content [i] Annotation [ii] Original text [iii] References [iv] Source & links [v] Notes [vi] Authors & Affiliations [vii] Keywords [i] Annotation Abstract of the article: Youssef AO. Medial approach open reduction with ligamentum teres partial excision and plication for the management of congenital hip dislocation (2018). The article describes a method for transposition of the proximal attachment of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in congenital hip dislocation. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 2018YoussefAO . [ii] Original text Abstract Because of the known tendency for early redislocation following open reduction, we developed surgical methods for shortening the ligamentum teres to improve immediate postoperative stability when performing medial approach open reduction (MAOR) for the management of developmental dysplasia of the hip. Between 2004 and 2014, 32 patients w...

11th-15th Century

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LCF in 2025 (December)

LCF in 2025 ( December) (Quotes from articles and books published in December 2025 mentioning the ligamentum capitis femoris) Sarassa, C., Aristizabal, S., Mejía, R., García, J. J., Quintero, D., & Herrera, A. M. (2025). Intraosseous Tunneling and Ligamentum Teres Ligamentodesis “Teretization” to Enhance Stability in Congenital Hip Dislocation Surgery: Surgical Technique and Mid-Term Outcomes. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics , 10-1097. [i] journals.lww.com Kampouridis, P., Svorligkou, G., Spassov, N., & Böhme, M. (2025). Postcranial anatomy of the Late Miocene Eurasian hornless rhinocerotid Chilotherium. PLoS One , 20 (12), e0336590. [ii] journals.plos.org Burdette, T. N., Hsiou, C. L., McDonough, S. P., Pell, S., Ayers, J., Divers, T. J., & Delvescovo, B. Sidewinder syndrome associated with complete rupture of the ligamentum capitis ossis femoris in a horse. Eq...

IMPROVING POSTOPERATIVE COMFORT...

Improving Postoperative Comfort and Increasing the Reliability of Hip Prostheses by Supplementing with Artificial Ligaments: Proof of Concept and Prototype Demonstration S.V. Arkhipov, Independent Researcher, Joensuu, Finland CONTENT [i] Abstract [ii] Introduction [iii] Materials and Methods [iv] Results and Discussion [v] Static Tests [vi] Dynamic Tests [vii] Prototype Fabrication and Testing [viii] Conclusion [ix] References [x] Application [i] Abstract The principle of operation of an experimental total hip endoprosthesis augmented with ligament analogs has been demonstrated in single-leg vertical stances and at the mid-stance phase of the single-support period of gait. The experiments were conducted on a specially designed mechatronic testing rig. The concept of the important role of the ligamentous apparatus is further illustrated by a set of demonstrative mechanical models. The...

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The classifications are intended to systematize of ligamentum capitis femoris pathology and assist in the development of general approaches to its description, registration, analysis and treatment. Keywords ligamentum capitis femoris, ligamentum teres, ligament of head of femur, hip joint, histology, pathological anatomy, pathology, trauma INTRODUCTION In Russia, the initial attempts to classify pathology of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) were made by morphologists. The development of arthroscopic surgery has made it possible to identify various, previously undescribed types of LCF pathology, which prompted the development of various modern classifications based on intraoperative observations. Analysis of literature data and our own morphological observations allowed us to propose a General Classification of the Ligamentum Teres Pathology, which has the form of a collection of classifiers, as well as a Classification of Functions of the Ligamentum Teres. The ...

2008WengerDR_MiyanjiF

Article: Wenger DR et al. Ligamentum teres maintenance and transfer as a stabilizer in open reduction for pediatric hip dislocation: surgical technique and early clinical results (2008). The article describes a method of open reconstruction of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) for hip dysplasia. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 2008WengerDR_MiyanjiF . Ligamentum teres maintenance and transfer as a stabilizer in open reduction for pediatric hip dislocation: surgical technique and early clinical results Wenger DR, Mubarak SJ, Henderson PC, Miyanji F CONTENT [i] Abstract [ii] Introduction [iii] Materials and Methods [iv] Surgical technique & Results [v] Discussion & Conclusion [vi] References [vii] Application [i] Abstract Purpose The ligamentum teres has primarily been considered as an obstruction to reduction in children with developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH). In the ea...

1834MitchellE_KnoxR

Description and drawings of the proximal attachment and blood supply of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) from book Mitchell E, Knox R. Engravings of the ligaments (1834 ). PLATE VI PLATE VI. … 49. The round ligament of the hip-joint, which arises from the sinus in the bottom of the acetabulum and descends into the head of the femur. 50. A portion of it which is thinner and membranous. 51. Portion of a ligament which arises from the outer surface of the ischiatic cavity and surrounds its neck as far as the notch of the acetabulum; there however it makes its way into the acetabulum, passing under the arch of the cotyloid ligament. 52. Branch of the obturator artery. 53. Two twigs which penetrate into the cotyloid cavity along with the ligament 51, to mingle with the round ligament. PLATE VII PLATE VII. Fig. 1. … 19, 19. Remarkable glands, which are concealed in the sinus of the acetabulum. 20. Origin of the exterior ligament which arises fr...

1970MichaelsG_MatlesAL

Content [i] Annotation [ii] Original text [iii] References [iv] Source & links [v] Notes [vi] Authors & Affiliations [vii] Keywords [i] Annotation Abstract of the article: Michaels G, Matles AL. The role of the ligamentum teres in congenital dislocation of the hip (1970). The authors proposed an analogy for the role of the ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) as a “ball and chain control” and noted that it can spontaneously reduce congenital hip dislocation. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 1970MichaelsG_MatlesAL . [ii] Original text Quote p. 199 Many papers in the literature have implicated the ligamentum teres as a hindrance to the late open reduction of a congenitally dislocated hip. Occasionally the ligamentum teres has been reported to be absent. However, in most cases it is hypertrophied and elongated. Our present knowledge confirms the fact that congenital dislocation of t...

2008DoddsMK_McCormackD

Content [i] Annotation [ii] Original text [iii] References [iv] Source & links [v] Notes [vi] Authors & Affiliations [vii] Keywords [i] Annotation Abstract of the article: Dodds MK et al . Transarticular stabilization of the immature femoral head: assessment of a novel surgical approach to the dislocating pediatric hip in a porcine model (2008). The article describes an experiment of reconstruction of ligamentum capitis femoris (LCF) in pigs with the formation of a femoral tunnel. The text in Russian is available at the following link: 2008DoddsMK_McCormackD . [ii] Original text Abstract Background: Acetabular dysplasia and hip instability are common in neuromuscular diseases such as spina bifida and cerebral palsy due to deranged muscle function around the hip. Occasionally in developmental dysplasia of the hip, persistent instability may be difficult to manage by standard treatments. It i...

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