Louis Théophile Joseph Landouzy

Louis Théophile Joseph Landouzy (March 27, 1845 - May 10, 1917) was a French neurologist from Reims, and whose father and grandfather were also physicians. He studied medicine in Reims and Paris, earning his doctorate in 1876. He spent much his career at the University of Paris, becoming a professor of therapy in 1893 and a dean of medicine in 1901.

His name is associated with the Landouzy-Dejerine syndrome, a type of muscular dystrophy with atrophic changes to the facial muscles and scapulo-humeral region. It is named along with neurologist Joseph Jules Dejerine, who was a colleague and close friend. Landouzy was a witness at the wedding of Dejerine to Augusta Marie Klumpke (1859-1927) in 1888.

Landouzy's primary area of interest dealt with tuberculosis, and was a major figure regarding education of the public for its eradication. He also was a member on several international committees concerning this disease.

He is credited with coining the word camptodactyly to describe a flexion deformity of the finger(s) at the proximal interphalangeal joint. Also his name is associated with the Landouzy-Grasset Law along with neurologist Joseph Grasset (1849-1918). This law states that in lesions concerning one hemisphere of the brain, a patient will turn his head to the side of affected muscles if there is spasticity, and to the side of the cerebral lesion if there is paralysis.

Reference

 * Who Named It?, Louis Landouzy

Louis Landouzy