It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of Professor Jean Dubousset this Monday, May 5.
An exceptional orthopaedic surgeon and a pioneer in treating spinal deformities, Jean Dubousset has left a lasting mark on the history of medicine through his work. His name will forever be associated with the Cotrel-Dubousset instrumentation, which revolutionized the surgical management of scoliosis in the 1980s. But his impact extends far beyond the operating rooms.
As a researcher associated with the Georges Charpak Human Biomechanics Institute, he actively contributed to several research projects combining biplanar imaging, 3D modeling of the spine, and biomechanical monitoring of vertebral pathologies, particularly in children and adolescents.
His interactions were always stimulating: demanding, yet profoundly kind. He had a talent for conveying the clinical complexity of cases to engineers while remaining open and curious about methodological and technological innovations arising from biomechanics research.
He was also one of the driving forces behind the development of the EOS radiography system, a rare collaboration between medicine, particle physics, and biomedical engineering. In collaboration with Georges Charpak, Nobel Prize in Physics, and Wafa Skalli, he actively participated in the design of a low-dose biplanar imaging device capable of reconstructing the entire skeleton in 3D in a functional position. This system, now deployed in many hospitals worldwide, fully embodies Jean Dubousset's vision: more precise, less invasive medicine, serving the patient.
Jean Dubousset embodied the rare and precious link between clinical practice, science, and humanity. We are infinitely grateful for his trust, loyalty, and intellectual generosity.
Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and the medical and scientific community he enriched so greatly.
