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The tree of Andry, or ‘crooked tree’, is the symbol of the history of the discipline of orthopaedics.

The Parisian pediatrician, Nicholas Andry, senior Dean of the Faculty of Physick, published a book in 1741. This book was entitled ‘Orthopaedia: or, The Art of Correcting and Preventing Deformities in Children. By Such Means That May Easily be Put into Correcting and Preventing Deformities in Children. By Such Means That May Easily be Put into Practice by Parents Themselves and All Such as Are Employed in Educating Children’.

The book defined, for the first time, what has become orthopaedic surgery.

In the preface Dr. Andry stated: “As to the title, I have formed it of two Greek words, straight and a child. Out of the two words I have compounded that of Orthopaedia to express in one term the design I propose which is to teach the different methods of preventing and correcting the deformities of children.”

In his book, Dr. Andry used an illustration of a crooked sapling tied to an upright stake with rope. The ‘crooked tree’ became the symbol of this new specialty. An important basic orthopaedic principle is depicted by the drawing:

“bone is not an inert material, but a dynamic structure that responds to stimuli.”

Tri-City Orthopaedics honors the rich history of our discipline. We embrace the opportunity to improve the lives of those we serve and look forward to what the future will bring as we continue to utilize the latest in technology and medical research.