The survey provides an insight to the current trends in BR practice with respect to surgeon and practice setting characteristics. Although not necessarily the correct best practices, the survey does demonstrate a likely portrayal of what is being practiced in the United States in the area of BR.

During the Byzantine period the most prominent medical personalities were Oribasius, Aetius of Amida, Alexander of Tralles, and Paul of Aegina (Paulus Aegineta). The last of the eclectic Greek compilers, Paul of Aegina (625-690 AD) was born on the island of Aegina and practiced medicine in Alexandria. He was the author of the Epitome of Medicine (seven books), which was first printed in Greek by the Aldine Press in Venice in 1528. The Syndenham Society of London published an English translation by Francis Adams of Banchory between 1844 and 1847. The most noteworthy of his Epitome is the sixth book on surgery. Paul was not only a scribe but also a highly capable surgeon. He was the quintessential student of the best medical authorities: Hippocrates and Galen in Greek and Roman medicine, respectively. He also displayed a peculiar genius in the field of surgery. He gave us novel descriptions of tracheotomy, tonsillectomy, catheterization of the bladder, lithotomy, inguinal hernia repair, abdominal paracentesis for ascites, and many other surgical procedures including reduction of breast size. He not only influenced those in his own era but had great influence on physicians such as Rhazes, Haly Abbas, Albucasis, Avicenna, and Fabricius ab Aquapendente, who lived in subsequent eras. This historical article emphasizes the role of Paul of Aegina in the history of surgery and provides a comprehensive review of his surgical treatise with original case examples that represent his contributions to surgical progress.

Paulus Aegineta (625-690 ad), born on the island of Aegina, practiced medicine at Alexandria. The last of the eclectic Greek compilers in the Byzantine period, he wrote an Epitome of medicine in seven books. The sixth book, which is considered the best section of his work, is devoted mainly to surgery. The first edition, "editio princeps," of his Epitome was published in Greek by the Aldine press in Venice in 1528 and later translated into English for the Sydenham Society by Francis Adams of Banchory (1844-1847). Paulus was not only a compiler but also a competent and skillful surgeon. In addition to his achievements in general surgical progress, Paulus Aegineta, especially in the book on surgery, made valuable contributions in the history of plastic surgery. He may be considered as one of the originators of plastic surgery as it is known today. He described procedures varying from the treatment of nasal and jaw fractures to operations for gynecomastia, ganglion, and hypospadias. This Grecian master influenced not only his own but also the subsequent ages. Rhazes, Haly Abbas, Albucasis, Avicenna, and Fabricius ab Aquapendente were the greatest physicians influenced by Paulus Aegineta. Because the work of Paulus Aegineta was the only source for many of the surgical treatises of Arabian authors, his Epitome bridged Western and Eastern medicine and conveyed surgical experience and knowledge, including several plastic surgery procedures, to the subsequent ages.

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