Paul of Aegina (ca 625-690 ad): Byzantine Surgeon and Pioneer of Surgical Management of Congenital Atresia of the External Auditory Canal. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tsoucalas, Gregory; Michaleas, Spyros N.; Laios, Konstantinos; Androutsos, George; Karamanou, Marianna
• Is Part Of: Surgical innovation. Volume 27:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 686
• Page End: 690
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: otology -- colpomachairidion -- bistoury -- pediatric ear surgery; Surgery, Operative -- Periodicals; Endoscopic surgery -- Periodicals; Laparoscopic surgery -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Operative -- Periodicals; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive -- Periodicals; Diffusion of Innovation -- Periodicals; Chirurgie opératoire -- Périodiques; Chirurgie endoscopique -- Périodiques; Chirurgie laparoscopique -- Périodiques; 617.91
• DOI: 10.1177/1553350620945566
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1553-3506

Abstract

Diseases of the ear have been recorded and treated since ancient times. Ex-votos have been offered to heal deafness. Noninvasive treatments have evolved into minor, and later more advanced, surgical techniques to treat head and neck issues. Paul of Aegina (ca 625-690ad ) perfected his medical skills in the School of Alexandria in Egypt. His medical encyclopedia, Medical Compendium, described a broad series of surgical operations, including a chapter "On the atresia of the auditory canal, " which vividly described a surgical technique to open the ear canal. This surgery is particularly interesting, as it exceeds the limits of resection and amputation known at that time and describes a novel surgical technique. His innovative methods paved the way for future surgeons.