The contribution of the distinguished scientist and teacher, world renowned orthopedic surgeon, father of the national orthopedics and founder of the first orthopedic clinic in Russia – professor Henry Ivanovich Turner in the evolvement of the spinal disorders science is analyzed in this article. Of all fields of orthopedic science Henry Turner paid special attention to the spinal disorders. His main research directions included the study of scoliosis, inflammatory spinal diseases, spinal trauma and anomalies, Bechterew’s disease. Henry Turner identified congenital and secondary causes of spinal disorders. In his works on conservative treatment of scoliotic spine deformities he emphasized the importance of physical exercise and spinal corsets treatment. Profound knowledge of the spine biomechanics and clinical manifestations of the disease let him to define the requirements for scoliosis treatment corsets. Pioneer in science, Henry Turner was one of the first in Russia to recognize the significance and prospects of the surgical treatment of severe spine deformities. He disapproved ineffective «short» fusion and fusion on the maximum spine curvature surgery, as well as isolated muscle surgery. In his articles on management of spondylitis of various etiology Henry Ivanovich outlined the clinical picture of the disease, proved the necessity of hard spine immobilization and suggested glue-lignin corset affordable for the most patients. Contribution of Henry Turner in the research of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis can hardly be overestimated. He described in detail clinical and pathoanatomical signs of the disease, and defined the «telescopic body» symptom and radiographic signs of «sparrow tail» and «gendarme hat» which became classic.