The Importance of Reading Original Articles

     On the basis of On the Shoulder of Giants written by Boyes, it was mainly Europeans who, since the 16th century, formed the basis
of hand surgery as eponyms in the history of hand surgery. Boyes stated that “the original source, if possible, should be read and
understood by all”. It is sometimes necessary to read the original articles of these eponyms. However, these original articles are written
in German, French and Italian besides English.
In these countries, some historical traditional operative methods have been established. For example, the background of thumb
reconstruction exists in German-speaking countries. Bunnell, who recognised the importance of thumb reconstruction, provided Littler
with many German articles about thumb reconstruction (pollicisation), because Littler was good at German. Lastly, pollicisation was
advanced by Littler, resulting in achievement of pollicisation by Buck-Gramcko. It is important to read articles in other languages than
English.
The Finkelstein test is a well-known diagnostic method for de Quervain disease. However, Elliot pointed out that this test was
misunderstood and is not performed correctly. He reported the importance of reading original articles, rather than merely “quoting
a quote”. More than 10 years have passed since this report, but there are still many textbooks and papers in which this test is not
described correctly.
The original paper of Finkelstein, who lived in the same period as de Quervain in Switzerland, consists of a review of the literature,
aetiology, anatomy, pathology, macroscopic findings, microscopic findings, animal experiments, symptomatology, differential diagnosis,
treatment, prognosis and case reports. Nineteen of the references were in German in 24 bibliographies, and thus, Finkelstein was
reading German articles in Switzerland and Germany. In the original article of de Quervain, it is amazing that subcutaneous
tenosynovectomy had already been performed in two cases.

In order to report new original operative and diagnostic methods, it is necessary to well review other articles. In writing an article
referring to other articles, as stated by Boyes and Elliot, the importance of carefully reading articles, even if they are not English,
should be recognised.