Paulus of Aegina and the Historical Origins of Spine Surgery

摘要

Paulus of Aegina (625-690 AD) was the last of the prolific Byzantine physicians. His works consolidated and extended the knowledge of his predecessors, with pioneering efforts to improve the surgical management of spinal injuries. In this article, we review the literature to present an overview of the remarkable evolution of spine surgery throughout classical antiquity. In particular, we discuss the contributions of Paulus to this corpus and explore his classic 7-book anthology, Epitomoe Medicae Libri Septem (Medical Compendium in Seven Books). In reviewing Paulus' legacy, we show the significant milestones in the early development of anatomic and functional knowledge of the spine.