Neurosurgery History [Neurosurgery Wiki]

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Neurosurgery History ======

[[Trepanation]] was practiced by neolithic man. 

Neurosurgery as a [[speciality]] arose only during the second half of the 19th century. 

Modern Neurosurgery did not start until the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century. Before World War II neurosurgery was not generally recognized as an independent medical specialty, in particular not in [[Europe]]. This was different from the [[United States]] where such independence had developed in a progressive way already.

Its first pioneers were Sir [[William Macewen]], Sir [[Victor Horsley]], [[Fedor Krause]], [[Antoine Chipault]] from France, and [[Ludvig Puusepp]] from Russia.

The leaders of the second generation were Harvey Cushing, Walter Dandy, Charles Elsberg and Charles Frazier. Mention deserve also Otfried Foerster, Thierry de Martel, Clovis Vincent, René Leriche.

In [[1927]] nearly every medical school had a well-organized department of neurological surgery. The pioneers have asbaulted barriers of prejudice, inexperience, and technical difficulties almost insurmountable
((Fleming HW. Neurosurgery. Cal West Med. 1927 Mar;26(3):368. PubMed PMID:
18740276; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC1655397.
)).

Since the mid-1950s, neurosurgery has benefited from the remarkable progress due to tremendous advances in neuroimaging techniques, neuroanesthesia, neurostimulation, and brain-computer interfaces, as well as breakthroughs in operating microscopes and surgical instruments. Yet, this specialty has to do with delicate human structures and is hence considered as highly risky by insurance companies.