Evolution of Head and Neck Surgery as a Specialty

Excerpt

The foundations for the specialty of head and neck surgery were laid by contributors from the fields of reconstructive surgery, laryngology, general surgery, thyroid surgery, oral cancer surgery, and other pioneers who attempted surgery of the sinuses and salivary glands. Historically, Sushruta has been credited as the father of head and neck surgery. He practiced and taught the use of forehead flap for nasal reconstruction around 700 BC. This surgical procedure was developed by him for the reconstruction of amputated noses in men and women who were accused of having committed adultery resulting in the amputation of the nose by their spouse or family members. These individuals were in desperate need for restoration of their face to be presentable in society. Sushruta took this challenge and developed the forehead flap in the reconstruction of the nose. Chronologically, this may be considered the foundation of the initiation of surgical procedures on the head and neck. Toward the middle of the second century AD, Tagliacozzi from Italy developed the technique of pedicled flaps transferred from one part of the body to the other for the reconstruction of various surgical defects. This was the genesis of tubed pedicles used in the reconstruction of surgical defects by utilizing pedicled soft tissue and skin from one part of the body to another. Clearly, this was a major advance in reconstructive surgery, particularly in the head and neck area. Thus, the earliest foundations for head and neck surgery came from contributions from reconstructive surgeons. …