title: [History of the treatment of spinal diseases].
abstract: Identification and treatment of spinal disorders have been described for thousands of years. Nevertheless, systematic operative treatment was more or less impossible until about 200 years ago. During the second half of the last century, spinal surgery developed rapidly due to several technical improvements. This article summarizes the main aspects of the historical development of spinal surgery.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Klinik, St. Elisabeth-Hospital, Im Schlosspark 12, 45699 Herten. peter.feldmann@St-Elisabeth-Hospital.de
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Feldmann
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wittenberg
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000266:history*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery