Hydrocephalus and its management in Avicenna's Canon of Medicine.
Hydrocephalus and macrocrania in children have been regarded as amazing disorders throughout the history of medicine. Although the main underlying causes and pathophysiology of hydrocephalus were not understood until the middle of the 18th century, early physicians had made important contributions to this field with their careful observations, management protocols, and anatomical studies. Among these pioneering physicians was Avicenna, widely accepted as an influential and leading scientific figure of the medieval ages. Avicenna was interested in the study of hydrocephalus, and in his principal medical book, the Canon of Medicine, he devoted a large section to this topic. In this paper, a short excerpt concerning hydrocephalus is presented from Avicenna's Canon.
Aciduman
Ahmet
A
Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health Ankara Etlik Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ahmetaciduman@yahoo.com
Belen
Deniz
D
D001083:Arabia; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D008514:Medicine, Arabic / Q000266:history*; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000266:history*