Spinal Disorders: Fundamentals of Diagnosis and Treatment Part 4. Spinal disorders are among the most common medical conditions with significant impact on health related quality of life, use of health care resources and socio-economic costs. Spinal surgery is still one of the fastest growing areas in clinical medicine. | 2 Section HistoryofSpinalDisorders 3 i fJJMLj2iaLSfei J . Historical Case Introduction This papyrus shows Column X of the Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus written in hieratic script which encompasses a description of a spinal injury. The Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus dates back to 1550-1500 . and is therefore the oldest known written evidence of spinal injuries 10 . This medical papyrus is an outstanding witness of a very accurate and rational medicine in Old Egypt foremost in traumatology. The papyrus revealsan astonishing knowledge of human anatomy at the Pharaonic time in Egypt Case 29 Instruction concerning a gaping wound of vertebra of his neck Examination If thou examinest a man having a gaping wound in a vertebra of his neck penetrating to the bone and perforating a vertebra of his neck if thou examinest that wound and he shudders exceedingly and he is unable to look at his two shoulders and his breast. Diagnosis Thou shouldst say concerning him One having a wound in his neck penetrating to the bone perforating a vertebra of his neck and he suffers with stiffness in his neck. An ailment with which I will contend. Treatment Thou shouldst bind the fresh meat the first day. Now afterward moor him at his mooring stakes until the period of his injuries passes by. Translation by the famous American Egyptologist . Breasted 1930 . History of Spinal Disorders Chapter 1 3 Figure roots b a This drawing of scoliosis therapy in Nicholas Andry s 1658-1742 epoch-making textbook L Orthopédie 1742 serves as a general symbol of orthopedics. b Galen of Pergamon 130-200 ad. . Kyphosis is also derived from the Greek word kyphos meaning hunchback or bent . Galen of Pergamon 36 first coined this term in medical language. The term lordosis belongs also to the Greek word family and is derived from the Greek word lordos standing for forward curving . Galen of Pergamon first used the word lordosis as a medical term 36 . Sciatica is of Greek origin and is derived from
