Emil Theodor Kocher (1841-1917): Orthopaedic surgeon and the first surgeon Nobel Prize winner

Abstract

Theodor Emil Kocher (1841-1917), born in Bern, educated in many universities in Europe. Kocher as many surgeons of that time performed orthopedic surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery and endocrine surgery, but he become famous in orthopaedic surgery and endocrine surgery. He is remember as a surgeon who described the approach to the hip joint, elbow joint, maneuver for the reduction of dislocated shoulder joint. He introduced many instruments and many of them, such as Kocher clamp is still in use. Most important Kocher work was the thyroid gland surgery, and he received the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1909, for-in this matter. His nature of meticulous surgeon, scientific and hard working person, dedicated to his patients and students made- found him the place in a history of medicine.

Adoption of the transoral endoscopic vestibular approach by head and neck surgeons without prior laparoscopic/robotic experience

“…Since described for the first time by Kocher more than 140 years ago, 18 surgical approaches for thyroidectomy have not changed significantly until recently. While laparoscopic surgery has replaced open surgery in many fields in general surgery, previous attempts to replace open thyroidectomies were not accepted worldwide 19 .…”

The management of elbow trauma from a historical perspective

“…He introduced a posterolateral approach that allows exposure of the distal humerus, radial head, and biceps tuberosity. 6 This eponymous “Kocher approach” has been traditionally recommended for ORIF of elbow fractures. While the approach is taught as the interval between the anconeus and extensor muscles, in reality, it was a much greater extensile exposure.…”

Emil Theodor Kocher (1841-1917): contribuições para a Medicina e Neurocirurgia

“…3,8 Em 1909, Kocher foi agraciado com o Prêmio Nobel de Medicina e Fisiologia pelas suas contribuições na cirurgia, fisiologia e patologia da tireóide. 2,3,8,11,12 Seu trabalho "Beunruhigende pathologische Manifestationen bei niedriggradiger Schilddrüsenerkrankung" (Manifestações patológicas preocupantes em doenças da tireóide de baixo grau) compreende esforços dele e de colegas no desenvolvimento da cirurgia e na investigação da fisiologia tireoidiana. Até o final de sua vida, Kocher teria realizado mais de 5 mil tireoidectomias, tendo letalidade de menos de 1%, um grande avanço médico ao se considerar o cenário da época.…”

“…Fortes HMS, Valença MM ASAA Introdução E mil Theodor Kocher nasceu no ano de 1841, em Bern, na Suíça. [1][2][3] Filho de Jacob Alexander Kocher, um engenheiro civil de sucesso, e de MariaWermuth Von Signau, pietista com forte convicção religiosa, Kocher teve o trabalho e a religiosidade como pontos fortes de sua criação. 1 Com isso, ele se dedicou bastante à suas atividades acadêmicas como graduando na Universidade de Bern, obtendo o título de "Doctor of Medicine" em 1866.…”