The Rolando fracture is named after Silvio Rolando, an Italian surgeon who first described this specific fracture pattern in 1910.
Essentially, the term "Rolando fracture" is an eponym, meaning it's named after the person who first identified and described it in medical literature. Dr. Rolando's initial description allowed other medical professionals to recognize and classify this particular type of intra-articular fracture at the base of the thumb. This recognition helped standardize diagnosis and treatment strategies.
In simpler terms, just like Parkinson's disease is named after James Parkinson, the Rolando fracture is named after Silvio Rolando.
