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Cranioplasty in medieval Persia and the potential spread of this knowledge to Europe
Mohammadali M Shoja1, Paul S Agutter, Marios Loukas
1Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. shoja.m@gmail.com
Introduction:
Skull trepanation is an ancient and often religious act found in remains from around the world. However, cranioplasty for the surgical treatment of skull pathologies is a relatively recent phenomenon. In this paper, we focus on the account of skull injury and cranioplasty in medieval Persia.
Materials And Results:
Herein, we describe and translate the over 500-year-old writings of the Persian physician Baha al-Dowleh Razi regarding cranioplasty in an excerpt from his book entitled Khulasat al-Tajarib (Summary of Experiences). This early writer detailed the methods and indications for cranioplasty including the use of xenographs. Additionally, we attempt to trace this early understanding of skull surgery and follow its possible spread to Europe.
Conclusions:
It is such early experiences and methods of cranial surgery on which we base our current understanding of neurosurgery.
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