Hand surgery in the 90 years of Polish Orthopaedics.

Surgery of the hand is one of the youngest branches of surgery. It is concerned with the restoration of function of the entire upper limb, treating malfunctions due to disorders, injuries or congenital malformations. The author discusses the origin and history of development of hand surgery in the world as well as presenting the successive stages of the development of this discipline in Poland. It is emphasised that the level of training and professional skills of Polish specialists in hand surgery meets European and world standards and that procedures carried out at some centres represent the state of the art in hand surgery and meet all standards and requirements.