Sir William Arbuthnot Lane was one of the most brilliant British technical surgeons during the first half of the 20th century. Although some of his ideas may be controversial, he made many original contributions and innovations in surgical techniques. His greatest contribution was the introduction of the ‘no-touch technique’ in the open reduction and plating of long bone fractures by Lane's steel plates and screws. One of his registrars, Kenelm Hutchinson Digby, came to the Far East in 1913 as one of the first professors in the newly founded University of Hong Kong. Digby brought his former mentor's ideas to Hong Kong and inaugurated the practice of modern surgery there.
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