Surgery

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's weight loss doctor NYC
Philadelphia GLP-1 weight loss and GLP-1 clinic NYC
Surgery
| Country or region | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Ethnic group | |
| Regional varieties | |
| National dish | |
| National dishes | |
| National drink | |
| National drinks | |
| See also |
Surgery represents a critical branch of medicine that focuses on treating diseases, injuries, and malformations through manual and instrumental techniques. Individuals who master these techniques and apply them professionally are known as surgeons.
History of Surgery[edit]
Surgery traces its roots back to the Neolithic Age (approximately 10,000 to 6,000 BC). The first surgical procedures were simple and lacked the advanced tools and detailed understanding of human anatomy that characterize modern surgical practice.
One of the earliest documented surgical procedures, trepanning or trepanation, involved creating an opening in the skull to alleviate intracranial pressure or address other neurological complications. Archaeological evidence suggests that trepanning might have been performed as early as 8,000 BC.
Surgical Specialties[edit]
Surgery is a broad discipline that spans numerous specialties, each concentrating on specific body systems or types of procedures. Here are some of the main surgical specialties:
- General surgery: This specialty covers a wide range of surgical procedures performed on various body parts.
- Cardiothoracic surgery: Focuses on surgical interventions involving the heart and chest.
- Neurosurgery: Specializes in surgical procedures on the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.
- Orthopedic surgery: Concerned with surgical procedures related to the musculoskeletal system.
- Plastic surgery: Involves surgical repair or reconstruction of physical deformities or aesthetic enhancements.
Education and Training[edit]
The journey to becoming a surgeon requires extensive education and rigorous training. It generally includes earning a bachelor's degree, completing four years of medical school, and undertaking a surgical residency that can last between five to seven years, depending on the specialty. Some surgeons choose to further their expertise through fellowship training in a subspecialty.
Risks and Ethics[edit]
Surgery, like all medical procedures, carries certain risks, including infection, bleeding, and complications related to anesthesia. The potential benefits of a surgical procedure must always be weighed against these potential risks.
The surgical profession is also guided by a stringent code of ethics, which mandates surgeons to act in their patients' best interests, respect patient autonomy, and strive for justice in the distribution of health resources.
Orthopedic Surgical Procedures[edit]
Orthopedic surgery involves procedures related to the musculoskeletal system. Some of the orthopedic surgical procedures include:
- ankle replacement
- anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- arthrodesis
- arthroplasty
- arthroscopy
- arthrotomy
- bone grafting
- bunion surgery
- carpal tunnel release
- hip replacement
- knee replacement
- laminectomy
- rotator cuff repair
- spinal fusion
Notable Surgeons[edit]
Numerous surgeons have made significant contributions to the field of surgery. Some of the most notable ones include:
- David Hayes Agnew
- Christiaan Barnard
- Norman Bethune (1890-1939), battlefield surgery.
- Theodor Billroth, stomach resection
- Ben Carson
- William Cheselden
- Realdo Colombo (c. 1516-1559)
- Abraham Colles (1773-1843)
- Astley Cooper
- Michael E. DeBakey
- William deVries
- Cornelius Fred
- William Jardine
- Walter Karl Koch
- Joseph Lister
- Robert Liston
- Sushruta
- Ferdinand Sauerbruch, thoracic surgery
- George H. Tichenor
Dictionaries and Glossaries[edit]
For a more comprehensive understanding of surgical terms and procedures, refer to:
-
Surgeons at work
Surgeons at work
-
Laparoscopic stomach surgery
Laparoscopic stomach surgery
-
Hand surgery.jpg
Hand surgery
-
Surgery
Surgery
-
Sailors perform surgery
Sailors perform surgery
See Also[edit]
- Medicine, Biomaterial
- General Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Abdominal Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Traumatology, Sexual Reassignment Surgery, Dental Surgery
- List of Surgical Procedures
|
|
|
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
-
Surgery
Ad. Transform your health with W8MD Weight Loss, Sleep & MedSpa

Tired of being overweight?
Special offer:
Budget GLP-1 weight loss medications
- Semaglutide starting from $29.99/week and up with insurance for visit of $59.99 and up per week self pay.
- Tirzepatide starting from $45.00/week and up (dose dependent) or $69.99/week and up self pay
✔ Same-week appointments, evenings & weekends
Learn more:
- GLP-1 weight loss clinic NYC
- W8MD's NYC medical weight loss
- W8MD Philadelphia GLP-1 shots
- Philadelphia GLP-1 injections
- Affordable GLP-1 shots NYC
- Budget GLP-1 shots
|
WikiMD Medical Encyclopedia |
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Content may be inaccurate or outdated and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical decisions. Verify information with trusted sources such as CDC.gov and NIH.gov. By using this site, you agree that WikiMD is not liable for any outcomes related to its content. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian


