Prof. Dr. Petar V. Simić, pioneer of orthopedic spinal surgery in Serbia

Abstract

Orthopedic surgery has a long and rich history. The term “orthopedics” was originally coined in 1700, although its development began much earlier. The origins of spinal surgery can be associated with four historical periods: the Egyptian and Babylonian, the Greek and early Byzantine, the Arabic, and the medieval. The history of orthopedic surgery in Serbia begins with the arrival of Dr. Nikola Krstić in Belgrade in 1904, after his studies in Vienna, as well as with the first X-ray image of the hand taken in 1905. The history of spinal orthopedic surgery in Serbia begins with the work of Prof. Dr. Petar Simić, whose pioneering accomplishments continue to serve as the foundation for the development of spinal surgery at the University Clinical Center of Serbia and throughout the country.

Keywords: orthopedics; spinal surgery; history; Serbia