Eduard albert and the beginning of human nerve grafting

Abstract

BackgroundThe scientific achievements of the Austrian surgeon Eduard Albert in developing methods for peripheral nerve grafting are enumerated and evaluated.MethodsThe case history of Albert's first patient suffering from a sarcoma of the median nerve is presented in detail by using all original descriptions available in contemporary literature.ResultsThe tumor was resected, but half a year later the patient suffered from a local relapse. Again the tumor and a corresponding piece of the median nerve were excised and a bridge of normal nerve tissue assured continuity. At the site of the loss of substance, Albert transplanted a part of a tibial nerve, which originated from a freshly amputated lower leg of another patient. Therefore he seems to have carried out the first human allograft in 1876. Furthermore it has to be added, that Albert also carried out the first successful autograft by using the sciatic nerve of dogs in 1877 (crosstransplantation of parts of this nerve in the same animal).ConclusionsBy this historical investigation an authentic report about Eduard Albert's first (partially) successful attempts of nerve grafting in men (and animal) shall be presented.