Historical Vignette of Infamous Gunshot Injury to Spine: "An Ailment not to be Treated"?

World Neurosurg. 2015 Nov;84(5):1441-6. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2015.03.037. Epub 2015 Mar 30.

Abstract

The increasing prevalence and gloomy socioeconomic consequence of spine injury remain a concern in modern medicine. In this article, we highlight the infamous gunshot spinal injuries of a few eminent personalities across multiple centuries and their sociopolitical impact in context with the evolution of modern medicine. The role of available medicine in these victims was not more than a mere watcher, thus substantiating an infamous quote from ancient literature that describes spine injury as "an ailment not to be treated."

Keywords: Gunshot; Sociopolitical impact; Spine.

Publication types

  • Historical Article
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Firearms / history
  • History, 18th Century
  • History, 19th Century
  • History, 20th Century
  • History, Ancient
  • History, Medieval
  • Psychosurgery / history
  • Spinal Injuries / history*
  • Spinal Injuries / therapy*
  • Wounds, Gunshot / history*
  • Wounds, Gunshot / therapy*