Hippocrates, Celsus and Galen: Head Injury, the Brain, nd the Bone
Keywords:
Hippocrates, Celsus, Galen, skull fracture, depressed fracture, soul, brain functionAbstract
The works of Hippocrates, Celsus, and Galen are used as information sources for a proposed approach to treating traumatic brain injury. All three authors noted changes in the level of consciousness in cases of traumatic brain injury.
According to modern concepts, the classification of fractures proposed by Hippocrates is somewhat unusual. He spoke of "hedra" and bruises, noting that the latter may not be identified during an examination—a view that has since been rejected. In discussing what he called a depressed fracture, Hippocrates described an extensive comminuted fracture in which bone fragments can be moved inward or outward. He advised against touching these fragments.
Celsus, on the other hand, detailed the manipulations needed for treating depressed fractures, a technique comparable to modern methods. However, he did not mention extensive comminuted fractures and did not provide a classification of fractures.
Galen introduced new tools and methods, perfecting the technique of craniotomy. He promoted the use of the cycliscus and a special tool with a blunt tip—the lentiform knife—which protected the dura from damage when removing bone fragments. His method of treating extensive depressed fractures seems too radical by today's standards.
Hippocrates, Celsus, and Galen made significant contributions to the development of treatment methods for traumatic brain injury and the advancement of medical practice. The unusually high level of treatment performed by these scientists, without any proven scientific basis or established medical research techniques, is striking.
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