During the First World War, orthopedists actively sought to expand their discipline by providing comprehensive care for wounded soldiers and civilians. A pivotal figure in this endeavor in Croatia was Božidar Špišić, who in 1915 championed the establishment of a comprehensive rehabilitation center in Zagreb. Špišić argued that such a facility was crucial to prevent a large segment of the population from becoming unproductive due to war-related disabilities. His efforts led to the creation of the first specialized orthopedic department at the Red Cross hospital in 1915, followed by the groundbreaking Croatian orthopedic hospital in 1916. This facility was equipped with operating rooms, X-ray capabilities, physiotherapy, electro- and thermotherapy, and on-site prosthesis manufacturing. A core innovation was the establishment of schools for disabled soldiers, offering occupational therapy and professional retraining in thirty vocations. Špišić’s holistic approach, rooted in social medicine, aimed to reintegrate disabled individuals into society. This included training programs, like a course for masseurs, allowing disabled soldiers to become employees within the institute. Patients were then assessed by an Invalid Commission to determine residual disability. Over five years, Špišić’s hospital treated 8,797 soldiers, primarily for contractures, amputations, and bone deformities, underscoring the success of this forward-thinking rehabilitation model.