Thomas Gordon Wadsworth

A pioneer in hand and upper limb surgery, who also warned of the dangers of wearing stiletto heels

Thomas Wadsworth was one of the most colourful orthopaedic surgeons of his generation. He was a skilled operator, great innovator, distinguished lecturer, and prolific writer on elbow and hand surgery, his chosen field of expertise. His initial studies at Liverpool University were as a dental student, but he soon followed his older brother into medicine.

Between 1970 and 1972, at his own expense, he visited and worked with Dr Swanson—at that time a world leader in hand surgery—in …