AUC HISTORIA UNIVERSITATIS CAROLINAE PRAGENSIS
AUC HISTORIA UNIVERSITATIS CAROLINAE PRAGENSIS

The journal AUC Historia Universitatis Carolinae Pragensis, subtitled “Příspěvky k dějinám Univerzity Karlovy” (Papers on the History of Charles University), is a periodical devoted not only to the history of the Prague university but also to the history of education and student movement in the Czech lands. The journal, published since 1960 as part of the Acta Universitatis Carolinae series, also publishes essays presenting original historical sources (all texts are accompanied by summaries in foreign languages, mainly in English and German). It regularly publishes reviews and annotations of works on the history of education and annals of research activities.

The journal is archived in Portico.

AUC HISTORIA UNIVERSITATIS CAROLINAE PRAGENSIS, Vol 65 No 2 (2025), 29–36

Article

A Walk Through Time: Exploring the History of Joint Replacements

Ondřej Stejskal, David Hamr

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23365730.2025.18
published online: 09. 01. 2026

abstract

Throughout history there have been attempts to alleviate joint pain by various means. With Industrial Revolution and the development of modern medicine, surgery was seen as a means to relieve joint pain. The first endoprosthetic surgery was performed in Germany in 1890 using ivory. Since then, the materials and manufacturing technologies for joint replacements have evolved drastically, and this advancement continues to accelerate. This paper traces the evolution of endoprosthetic materials, from early 19th-century experiments with ivory and glass to modern orthopedic innovations using stainless steel, titanium, and other advanced materials. The main aim of this paper is to examine the historical development of biomaterials used in endoprosthetic manufacturing and explores emerging trends in this field.

keywords: Joint Replacements; History; Orthopaedic Surgery; Prosthetics; Arthroplasty

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