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SH08
AL‐ZAHRAWI – THE FATHER OF SURGERY
Author(s) -
Ahmad Z.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2007.04130_8.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cosmesis , surgery , general surgery
A pioneer in all fields of surgery, Al‐Zahrawi developed numerous original techniques as well as instruments. He published the first ever surgical encyclopaedia entitled “At‐Tashrif”. His way of thinking and practice of surgery inspired many subsequent great surgeons. As a result of his imperious work and contribution to surgery, he has been given the title of ‘Father of Surgery’, and provided yet another beacon of light in the dark ages. In his many papers and manuals, he describes various operations and procedures which had never been recorded before. Some have described him as the first ever plastic surgeon, notably for his attention to and methods of incision, use of silk thread suture to achieve good cosmesis. He describes what is thought to be the first attempt at reduction mammaplasty for the management of gynaecomastia. He gives detailed descriptions of other basic surgical techniques such as cautery and wound management. The aim of this paper is to highlight and remind us of the invaluable contributions made by this remarkable pioneer in the field of surgery, which have acted a preamble for many techniques and procedures used in the field of plastic surgery.