The history of trephination in Africa with a discussion of its current status and continuing practice.
Trephination of the skull is one of the most fascinating and, certainly, one of the oldest therapeutic procedures known to man. After Prunières' discovery of the trephined skull at Aiguières in 1868, a plethora of information has been gathered about the procedure. There, however, exits little documentation of African trephination or its history. Using both primary and secondary sources, we have discovered that African trephination was known in the time of Herodotus, has a rich history, and is currently practiced widely throughout Africa for specific reasons. We discuss these findings as they relate to preconceived notions of trephinations in other countries and to the history of neurosurgery.
Rawlings
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Forsyth Neurosurgical Associates, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103.
Rossitch
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D000349:Africa; D006261:Headache / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D014207:Trephining / Q000266:history*