Germany
Neurosurgical workforce in Germany
Trephination
Evidence exists that trephination was performed in Germany as early as the Stone Age. Late medieval barber-surgeons further developed instruments and techniques for this procedure. Various surgeons performed individual cranial operations before the 1870s, and neurosurgery evolved as a distinct discipline in Germany around 1934. Before the 20th century, most cranial operations in Germany, as in other European countries, were performed for trauma. Since approximately 1870, a few individuals with a devoted interest in surgery of the nervous system have developed operative techniques for the brain and spinal cord. Wilhelm Wagner, Fedor Krause, Ernst von Bergmann, and Otfrid Foerster were among these pioneers. Through independent research based on careful clinical observation, these physicians contributed significantly to an understanding of the pathophysiology of nervous system disorders that could be treated surgically. They designed techniques, such as those used for intracranial pressure regulation, and developed operative procedures, such as the osteoplastic flap of Wagner, and cortical stimulation, which was performed by Krause and Foerster 1).
The German Society for Spine Surgery (DWG) consists of spinal surgeons from neurosurgery, orthopedics, and trauma surgery. Besides, there is a section for spine surgery within the German Neurosurgery Society (DGNC).
The history of spinal neurosurgery in Germany goes with the history of general neurosurgery. The German Neurosurgery Society was founded in 1950 with 1,300 members. The society has several sections, including a spine section that organizes annual meetings.
The German Spine Society was founded in 2006 by the fusion of 2 independent German Societies, namely the German Society for Spine Research (founded in 1958) and the German Society of Spine Surgery (founded in 1987). The founding congress of the DWG took place in Munich in 2006, with 747 participants. The number of members is 1250, making it the largest spine society in Europe.
Hospitals
see Germany Hospitals.