The Evolution of Orthopaedics in Greece: From Ancient Heritage to Modern Times. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Megaloikonomos, Panayiotis D.; Savvidou, Olga D.; Vlachaki, Asimina; Igoumenou, Vasilios G.; Vlasis, Konstantinos; Papagelopoulos, Panayiotis J.
• Is Part Of: Surgical innovation. Volume 28:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 780
• Page End: 793
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: history of orthopaedics -- ancient Greece -- modern Greece -- Greek orthopaedics; 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: 10.1177/15533506211006982
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1553-3506

Abstract

Greece, one of the oldest civilizations of the world, fundamentally contributed to the establishment and evolution of medicine and surgery. Undoubtedly, the foundations of the orthopaedic science are dated back to antiquity. The journey of the orthopaedic art was inaugurated with the poems of Homer and incarcerated through the practices of Hippocrates and Galen. Their deep knowledge of the musculoskeletal conditions and their treatment was generously bequeathed to humanity. This heritage acted as the catalyst for the establishment of orthopaedics in the modern Greek era. In this article, we tried to illustrate the evolution of the orthopaedic art in Greece from antiquity to modern times, reviewing the available evidence from scientific articles, books, historical manuscripts, old newspapers, and biographies. We summarize the most important events, and we identify the pioneers that shaped this new surgical branch, creating the modern Greek orthopaedic discipline.