Neurosurgical pathology in prehistory

Campillo, Domingo

doi:10.1007/bf01406656

Cited by 61 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…We consider that the peri-mortem operation was performed for therapeutic or magico-therapeutic aids, although we cannot, of course, exclude the possibility that stress from this operation led to the death of the child. In contrast, trepanation post-mortem can undoubtedly only have been magico-ritual in character (Campillo, 1984). Thus, in the present case, the holes may have been opened for a particular ritual or superstitious reason after death.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…The possible reasons for trepanation have been the subject of much debate, without a consensus being reached. In ancient Peru, trepanation clearly served as a practical treatment for cranial trauma and depressed fracture (Stewart, 1957;Weiss, 1958;Kato et al, 2002;Verano, 2003), and in addition may have been performed, in a magico-therapeutic context, to treat a variety of intracranial and psychiatric disorders, such as headache, vertigo, neuralgia, coma, delirium, intracranial vascular catastrophe, meningitis, convulsions, epilepsy, and intracranial tumors (Asenjo, 1963;Campillo, 1984;Velasco-Suarez et al, 1992;Marino and Gonzales-Portillo, 2000). Mann (1991) reported a case in which chronic ear disease was a possible reason for trepanation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A possible case of prophylactic supra-inion trepanation in a child cranium with an auditory deformity (pre-Columbian Ancon site, Peru)

Kato

Shinoda

Kitagawa

et al. 2007

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We had the opportunity to examine a pre-Columbian Peruvian child (about 4-5 years old) cranium with a healed lesion above the inion on the occiput. It has previously been claimed that suprainion lesions represent traces of prehistoric trepanation for ritual or prophylactic reasons in childhood, a practice termed 'trepanation supra-iniana'. An alternative hypothesis claimed that such lesions mainly result from abnormal long-term compression caused by artificial deformation. We describe several macroscopic characteristics of the cranium and discuss the claim that it is a case of 'trepanation supra-iniana'. The cranium is also characterized by an artificial anterior-posterior deformation, unilateral stenosis of the external auditory canal on the right side, and small drill holes on this same side in the frontal region. The supra-inion lesion, consisting of a shallow depression and a fissure-like orifice, is located slightly to the right on the occiput. The morphological-pathological state of the lesion is analogous to the healing of a trepanation by scraping. These observations suggest that the lesion did not result from artificial compression by head deformation, but from the infliction of trepanation identical to 'trepanation supra-iniana'. The observed stenosis of the external auditory canal is clearly congenital. It is considered that this clearly visible auditory deformity was the primary reason for conducting the ritual or prophylactic trepanation. The small drill holes in the frontal region may have been a post-mortem or peri-mortem trepanation of a ritual or superstitious nature.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A possible case of prophylactic supra-inion trepanation in a child cranium with an auditory deformity (pre-Columbian Ancon site, Peru)

Kato

Shinoda

Kitagawa

et al. 2007

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“…[1,4]. [5]. It is believed that humans formed tribes giving origin to the "wizard" image and following the beliefs of the majority of primitive peoples; diseases were considered of divine origin and therefore the "wizard", who faced them, was a man with powers to communicate with the gods [1].…”

Section: Pre-historic and Historical Periodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

History of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Bertullo¹

2015

AJBM

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History is of one of the many disciplines that is considered as science, and which allows past events to be studied. This allows us to know about past facts, accompany their evolution, the origin of many concepts and terms, as well as errors and myths, allowing a comprehensive understanding of the present and learning to improve the future.The importance of history is such that it ends up determining the culture of many countries and also frames scientific disciplines. The great advances in knowledge of neurological function and its brain localization began in the nineteenth century. It is only recently that head injuries are classified by their neurological deficit rather than the type of skull fracture. This is not surprising, since most head injuries were treated by general surgeons who knew little about neurological examination. Although the illustrations in the early sixteenth century showed the anisocoria, this condition was not mentioned until three centuries later, when Jonathan Hutchinson first reported a dilated pupil on the same side as an intracranial clot, and pointed out that it was due to the compression of the third cranial nerve.

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“…It is believed that trepanation was used to treat headaches by giving evil spirits a physical route to leave the ailing head. 3 In the Mesopotamian period, headache was attributed to gods and evil spirits, in particular to Tiu, the evil spirit of headache. Treatment was based on appeasing or releasing the evil spirit with medicinal formulas or trepanation.…”

Section: From Prehistory Through the Babylonian Periodmentioning

confidence: 99%

The history of craniotomy for headache treatment

Assina

Sarris²,

Mammis³

2014

FOC

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Both the history of headache and the practice of craniotomy can be traced to antiquity. From ancient times through the present day, numerous civilizations and scholars have performed craniotomy in attempts to treat headache. Today, surgical intervention for headache management is becoming increasingly more common due to improved technology and greater understanding of headache. By tracing the evolution of the understanding of headache alongside the practice of craniotomy, investigators can better evaluate the mechanisms of headache and the therapeutic treatments used today.

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Neurosurgical pathology in prehistory

Cited by 61 publications

References 2 publications

A possible case of prophylactic supra-inion trepanation in a child cranium with an auditory deformity (pre-Columbian Ancon site, Peru)

A possible case of prophylactic supra-inion trepanation in a child cranium with an auditory deformity (pre-Columbian Ancon site, Peru)

History of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The history of craniotomy for headache treatment

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