Ambroise Pare [1510-1590] and his contribution to the treatment of scoliosis

The purpose of this study is to summarize the treatment options for scoliosis and spine deformities from Antiquity through Medieval Times up to the Renaissance. Furthermore, it is to present the contribution of "the Father of Modern Surgery", Ambroise Pare [1510-1590], to this field. Pare was a distinguished surgeon of the Renaissance with many contributions to surgery, including war trauma, obstetrics, forensic medicine, and Orthopaedics. He was the first to recognize the importance of bracing for the treatment of scoliosis, inventing his famous metallic brace with holes to reduce weight. In conclusion, it is noted that up to the time of the Renaissance traction and exercise were the main treatments of spinal deformities, especially scoliosis. The pioneering work of Ambroise Pare, "The father of Modern Surgery", suggested the use of a metallic brace during adolescence in order to correct spine curvature of scoliosis. Besides that, Pare never rejected more traditional treatment options, like traction and exercise. He just suggested continuous bracing in order to add to the already existing conservative therapeutic options

evolution of spine surgery in Greece in the second half of the 20th century

Spine Surgery began its evolution in the beginning of the 19th century in order to reach nowadays the point of being considered an important subspecialty of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics. The purpose of this historical review is the search and evaluation of the progress in spine surgery in the second half of the 20th century. This review concerns the evolution of this field in Greece. Special references are made to the achievements of this field, to the departments that practised it, to physicians and surgeons [orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, radiologists and rheumatologists] who developed this subspecialty and to clinical and scientific work of this time period. Eventually, the progress of medicine and technology who led to the first achievements of this subspecialty are shown and also that this progress followed the development of the National Healthcare System. In Greece, with small exceptions, the new techniques emerged with a certain delay