Hippocrates (5th-4th century B.C.), the founder of scientific medicine, lef
t a valuable heritage of knowledge and methodology, which extends to almost
all branches of modern medicine. Among the many fields of medicine he expl
ored, he devoted much of his scientific interest to the study of orthopedic
s In fact, some of the principles found in the Hippocratic treatises On Fra
ctures and On Joints are still valid today. This great physician also was t
he first to deal with the anatomy and the pathology of human spine. In his
books, he provides a precise description of the segments and the normal cur
ves of the spine, the structure of the vertebrae, the tendons attached to t
hem, the blood supply to the spine, and even its anatomic relations to adja
cent vessels. The Hippocratic list of spinal diseases includes tuberculous
spondylitis, post-traumatic kyphosis, scoliosis, concussion, dislocations o
f the vertebrae, and fractures of the spinous processes. Hippocrates devise
d two apparatuses, known as the Hippocratic ladder and the Hippocratic boar
d, to reduce displaced vertebrae. Those pioneer methods are deemed to be th
e precursors to the sophisticated techniques used in spine surgery today. B
ecause of his thorough study of spinal diseases and their management, which
was the first such study in orthopedics in the history of medicine, Hippoc
rates should be regarded as the father of spine surgery.