From time to time on the Neurosurgery Blog, you will see us cross-posting or linking to items from other places when we believe they hit the mark on an issue. April 8 marks World Neurosurgeons Day, celebrated annually on the birthday of Dr. Harvey Cushing. Dr. Cushing is regarded as the father of modern neurosurgery.
Christmas Day, 1917. Photograph taken in 1917 in Paris, France. Reprinted from Cushing H. From a Surgeon’s Journal, 1915-1918. Little, Brown; 1936. Public domain.
We wanted to bring attention to a publication in The Journal of Neurosurgery, the official journal of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. The article, “The birth of modern military neurosurgery through the eyes of Harvey Cushing’s war memoir From a Surgeon’s Journal, 1915-1918” discusses Dr. Cushing’s pioneering work during World War I, laying the foundation for modern neurosurgical practices.
Dr. Cushing was instrumental in treating soldiers with injuries to the head, spine, and peripheral nerves. He introduced new antiseptic techniques that significantly reduced rates of infection following craniotomies, which were essential in the pre-antibiotic era. Several of his methods are still used in surgery for penetrating head wounds today.
“In many ways, World War I shaped the modern world, and neurosurgery is no exception. Dr. Cushing’s journal and postwar papers not only provided the neurosurgical community with practical advice regarding the surgical treatment of penetrating cranial trauma but also provide an intimate look into the thought processes of a brilliant, kind, and fearless man. It is by no accident that he is considered the father of our field, as he provided a model to which we all might aspire,” states Harjus S. Birk, MD and his colleagues. World Neurosurgeons Day serves as an opportunity to honor Dr. Cushing’s legacy and celebrate the ongoing contributions of neurosurgeons.
Click here to read the full journal article.
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