[Figures of first laureates of the Wiktor Dega medal (XXXVII Jubilee Congress of Polish Orthopaedic and Traumatologic Society, 10-13 September 2008)].

Figures of two outstanding orthopaedists Professor Stefan Malawski and Professor Jerzy Król rewarded with the medal of the name of Wiktor Degi were described. The medal is being granted by the Chapter of the Medal as regarding for outstanding achievements for the Polish and world orthopaedics and rehabilitation. Profesor Stefan Kazimierz Malawski was born 26. 12. 1920 in the Vilnius area. In Vilnius he stated his medical studies, which he continued in Lwow and graduated in 1946 at the Marie Curie Skłodowska in Lublin. Professor Malawski's main field of interest were related to the problems related to tuberculosis of bones and joints and trauma of the lumbar and cervical spine. In the problems of bone tuberculosis he remains an unquestioned authority in Poland. His deep understanding of these clinical problems can be found in his text-book "Tuberculosis of bones and joints", which was printed in 1976. The information pertaining diagnosis and surgical treatment remain extremely valuable today. Another field of interest of Professor Malawski are pathologies of the spine. Disc disease, neoplasms of the spine, spinal stenosis and infections of the spine, spondylolisthesis are among many of his interests. This very wide field of interest can be dound in his 3 tome publication Spondyloorthopedics. His 166 papars printed in Poland and abroad bear proof of the Professors wide field of interest and deep knowledge. Professor Malawski was the first surgeon in Poland to perform surgery on the front elements of the spine in tuberculotic paraplegia. In 1958 he implemented surgical treatment of spine tumor--both primary and metastatic, by resecting them and stabilizing the spine with grafts. In the early 70's he focused on spinal stenosis. In the years 1982-1986 he was the Chairman of the Board of the Polish Orthopedic and Trauma Society. Professor Malawski introdued a modern set of Rules and Regulations, greatly simplifying the decision making process during General assemblies of the Society. Professor Malawski is undoubtedly a great successor to the active way of surgical thinking introduced by professor Adam Gruca. Professor Jerzy Król is among the greatest Polish orthopedic surgeons. He was born on 21st February 1926 in Baranowice (Nowogródek woiwodship). He graduated from high school in the underground schooling system during the Second World War, receiving his maturity exam in 1945 from the Konarski High Scool School of the Western Lands in Czestochowa. In 1945 the professor started his medical studies at Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznan, where he graduated in 1949. In 1950 he started his medical career in in Orthopedic Department of Poznan head by professor Wiktor Dega. Professor Król is the author of over 100 medical papers printed in national and international journals. His key fields of interest are congenital dislocation of the hip, hip arthroplasty, scoliosis and rehabilitaton and prosthesis problems. In 1968 he performed the first scoliosis correction with the Harrington rod in Poland as well as the implantation of the first McKee-Ferara hip prosthesis. He is the co-author of the text-book Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, Medical Rehabilitation and a number of WHO text books: Community Health Worker and Guide for prevention of Deformities in Poliomyelitis. He also took part in the publishing of the WHO text-book Rehabilitation Surgery, for which he received the Ministry of Health Award. He overlooked 7 Ph.D thesis and 4 papers qualifying for assistant professor. Between 1972 and 1995 professor Król worked as a WHO expert, as member of the Expert Committee for Rehabilitation. Between 1986-1987 head was the director of the Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Institute in Poznan. He resigned from this function due to his work with WHO in Madagaskar. After his return he was the head of the Orthopedic Department in Poznan University of Medical Sciennces until October 1996 when he retired.