Louis Thophile Joseph Landouzy

Vocation

Notable

French neurologist whose 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's primary area of interest dealt with tuberculosis, and he was a major figure involving education of the public for its eradication. He was a member of several international committees in regards to tuberculosis. He is credited with coining the word "camptodactyly" to describe a flexion deformity of the finger(s) at the proximal interphalangeal joint (1906). With neurologist Joseph Grasset (1849–1918), his name is associated with the "Landouzy-Grasset Law". 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. He died on 10 May 1917, aged 72, in Paris. Link to Wikipedia biography