We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Abulcasis: neurosurgical contribution to history.
- Authors
Ünel, Çiğdem Çengelli; Özden, Hilmi; Ulupınar, Emel
- Abstract
Al-Zahrawi (Latinised as Abulcasis) was an Arab Muslim physician and surgeon who lived Al-Andalus (936-1013 A.D). He published 30-volume medical encyclopedia, the Kitab al-Tasrif liman Ajaza an al-Talif (translated as "The book enabling him who cannot cope with the compilation") which was taught as a textbook in many universities of Europe. Numerous surgical instruments were firstly introduced in Al-Tasrif such as scalpels, retractors, curettes, pincers, specula, and also instruments for techniques of cauterization and ligature. Instruments related to neurosurgery were defined for diagnosis and treatment of head injuries and skull fractures, spinal injuries and dislocations, hydrocephalus and subdural effusions, and headache. Al-tasrif was first to describe a surgical procedure for the ligation of the temporal artery in migraine. Especially, Albucasis highlighted the need for comprehensive knowledge about the anatomy of brain, skull, and spinal cord on which any operation was to be performed. He defined the ping-pong type of fracture in children and also described the situation of patient who have a spinal injury. In addition, he described the shape of incision to discharge the fluid based on location in between skin and bone or bone and meninges. Albucasis mentioned in Al-Tasrif that paralysis, epilepsies, tremors, and numbness were treated with cauterization on various places of the patient's shaved head. In short, Al-Zahrawi has made numerous important contributions to the field of medicine, especially surgery. His emphasis on anatomy of the skull and brain in relation to the neurosurgical operations of that period inspired many neuroscientists afterwards.
- Subjects
EUROPE; THERAPEUTICS; HEAD injuries; SPINAL injuries; SKULL fractures; BRAIN anatomy; MENINGES; ARACHNOID cysts
- Publication
Anatomy: International Journal of Experimental & Clinical Anatomy, 2019, Vol 13, Issue S1, pS76
- ISSN
1307-8798
- Publication type
Article