Craniomaxillofacial Surgery Techniques of 15th Century Turkish Surgeon Serefeddin Sabuncuoglu

Abstract

Introduction: S ¸erefeddin Sabuncuog ˘lu, in his surgical medicine book entitled ''Imperial Surgery'' (Cerra ˆhiyetu ¨'l-Ha ˆniyye) that was published in the 15th century, described many diseases using colored miniatures, and explained the repair of these conditions using surgical methods and the required patient care after surgery. In his handwritten treatise, Sabuncuog ˘lu raised the curtain on his surgical methods with his illustrations. As a first in medical history, Sabuncuog ˘lu's book should be considered one of the most important original works from that era. Materials and Method: The handwritten ''Imperial Surgery'' is presented in three chapters divided into 194 sections, and describing 147 surgical procedures with miniature drawings, 160 surgical instruments and 10 types of incision. Results: A separate chapter is allocated to craniomaxillofacial surgery in Imperial Surgery, containing 53 of the total 194 sections. The first chapter describes the use of branding (cauterization) for the treatment of headache and facial diseases. The second chapter describes the treatment of hydrocephalus, headache, vascular surgery, and the surgical treatment of tumors in the head and face. The third chapter describes in detail the treatment of cranial fractures, nasal fractures, mandibular fractures and mandibular dislocations. Conclusion:The basic craniomaxillofacial surgery concepts, the descriptions of craniomaxillofacial diseases, the scales indicating the general patient conditions, and the surgical therapies, incisions, surgical instruments, postoperative care and complications put forward in the book are discussed in the present study. In the light of this seminal study, the authors of the present study suggest that Sabuncuog ˘lu should be considered and dignified as one of the leading pioneers of craniomaxillofacial surgery.

Global Research on Maxillofacial Fracture Over the Last 40 Years: A Bibliometric Study

“…The medical book Cerra ˆhiyetu ¨'l-Haniyye, written by the famous Turkish Surgeon S ¸erefeddin Sabuncuog ˘lu in the 15th century, which is the first handwritten surgical book of the Turkish and Islamic world, is an example. 17,18 In this book, types, and treatments of MFFs are mentioned. 19 Although it is known that biomechanical concepts and modern fixation techniques in MFFs nowadays are advancing 20 the Le Fort classification, which is still valid and widely used by physicians in classification for diagnosis and treatment protocols, was defined by Rene ´Le Fort 21 in 1901 and updated in 1903 by Marciani.…”

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“…6 The book was handwritten and included 3 chapters describing 160 surgical instruments, 147 disease presentations, severity scales, surgical procedures, complications, and postsurgical patient care accompanied by oriental, individualistic, and descriptive illustrations that illuminated surgical methodology. 7,8 Sabuncuoglo even had dietary and supplementary recommendations to accelerate healing. The third chapter, dedicated to craniomaxillofacial surgery, included the clinical presentation of mandibular fractures: "the mandible droops slightly or droops towards the chest; saliva comes out of the mouth and the patient cannot stop drooling or cannot speak; they cannot close their mouth and speak incomprehensibly."…”

“…Similarly, 15th-century Serefeddin Sabuncuoglu, a reputable physician-surgeon from Amasya, Ottoman Turkey, authored the book “Cerraˆhiyetu ̈'l-Haˆniyye” ( Imperial Surgery ) 6. The book was handwritten and included 3 chapters describing 160 surgical instruments, 147 disease presentations, severity scales, surgical procedures, complications, and postsurgical patient care accompanied by oriental, individualistic, and descriptive illustrations that illuminated surgical methodology 7,8. Sabuncuoglo even had dietary and supplementary recommendations to accelerate healing.…”

“…He identified the formation of pus as a complication and recommended opening the wound for the removal of bony fragments and closing with silk sutures. The descriptions were accompanied by beautiful illustrations 8…”

“…Sabuncuoglo even had dietary and supplementary recommendations to accelerate healing. The third chapter, dedicated to craniomaxillofacial surgery, included the clinical presentation of mandibular fractures: “the mandible droops slightly or droops towards the chest; saliva comes out of the mouth and the patient cannot stop drooling or cannot speak; they cannot close their mouth and speak incomprehensibly.”8 He detailed some of the earliest accounts of management of mandibular fractures by reduction and fixation using a gold or silver wire with wooden splints. He identified the formation of pus as a complication and recommended opening the wound for the removal of bony fragments and closing with silk sutures.…”