The history of spinal surgery for disc disease: an illustrated timeline

• Published in: Arquivos de neuro-psiquiatria 2005-09, Vol.63 (3A), p.701-706
• Main Authors: Castro, Igor de, Santos, Daniel Paes dos, Christoph, Daniel de Holanda, Landeiro, José Alberto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cervical Vertebrae - surgery; Hero; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - history; Intervertebral Disc Displacement - surgery; Lumbar Vertebrae - surgery; NEUROSCIENCES; Orthopedic Procedures - history; PSYCHIATRY
• ISSN: 0004-282X; 1678-4227; 0004-282X
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-282X2005000400030

This article presents the evolution in medical history which leads to the surgical treatment for ruptured discs. Only at the last century the precise diagnosis of a ruptured lumbar disc could be made after tremendous efforts of the many medical pioneers in the study of the spine. The experience gained with the lumbar spine was rapidly transferred to the cervical spine. We describe the evolution of the clinical and surgical aspects about ruptured discs in the lumbar and cervical spine. An illustrative timeline of the major events regarding the surgical treatment for ruptured disks is outlined in a straight forward manner. Our understandings of the relation between symptoms and signs and of that between anatomy and pathophysiology have led to more successful surgical treatment for this disease. Nowadays lumbar and cervical discectomies are the most frequent operations carried out by neurosurgeons. Our current care of patients with this kind of spinal disorders is based on the work of our ancient medical heroes.