The Royal Book by Haly Abbas from the 10th century: one of the earliest illustrations of the surgical approach to skull fractures.
Haly Abbas was one of the pioneering physicians and surgeons of the Eastern world in the 10th century who influenced the Western world by his monumental work, The Royal Book. The book was first partly translated into Latin by Constantinus Africanus in the 11th century without citing the author's name. Haly Abbas was recognized in Europe after full translation of The Royal Book by Stephen of Antioch in 1127. The Royal Book has been accepted as an early source of jerrah-names (surgical books) in the Eastern world. The chapters regarding cranial fractures in Haly Abbas' work include unique management strategies for his period with essential quotations from Paul of Aegina's work Epitome. Both authors preferred free bone flap craniotomy in cranial fractures. Although Paul of Aegina, a Byzantine physician and surgeon, was a connection between ancient traditions and Islamic interpretation, Haly Abbas seemed to play a bridging role between the Roman-Byzantine and the School of Salerno in Europe.
Department of Medical History and Ethics, Ankara University School of Medicine, and Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara Numune Research and Educational Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey. ahmetaciduman@yahoo.com
Ahmet
A
Aciduman
Berna
B
Arda
Esin
E
Kahya
Deniz
D
Belen
D001877:Books / Q000266:history*; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam / Q000266:history; D008488:Medical Illustration / Q000266:history*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods; D014177:Translations