Friedrich Gustav von Bramann
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Gustav von Bramann (September 25, 1854 – April 21, 1913) was a German
surgeon
born in Wilhelmsberg near Darkehmen
, East Prussia
.
He studied medicine at the University of Königsberg
where he joined the Corps
Hansea. He became assistant surgeon to Ernst von Bergmann
at the Charité
in Berlin
. In 1889 he declined the call to the University of Greifswald
and became a senior lecturer at the Charité
. In 1890 he was appointed professor (Ordinarius) of surgery at the University of Halle an der Saale, succeeding Richard von Volkmann
.
In 1887-88 he was attending surgeon to the Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
(1831-1888) in San Remo
. When Friedrich almost choked on a larynx cancer he encouraged Bramann to perform a tracheostomy. Without waiting for Bergmann's agreement "Fritz" Bramann, known for his icy composure, did so and thus enabled the Prince to ascend to the throne in March 1888. When Kaiser Friedrich III
had died only three months later the autopsy approved Bergmann's diagnosis and Bramann's emergency measure and skipped the former assessment of Morell Mackenzie
and Rudolf Virchow
.
Bramann was known for his use of minimal invasive surgical practices, and his pioneer work in neurosurgery
. With neurologist
Gabriel Anton
(1858-1933), he researched suboccipital puncture
and the Balkenstich method for treatment of hydrocephalus
. The "Balkenstich method" was first introduced in 1908 by Bramann and Anton, and is a procedure in which the corpus callosum
is pierced for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid
.
Bramann despised academic poly-writing and published only some dozens articles and papers.
He was knighted in 1891 and received high decorations for treating German princes and Turkish dignitaries.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
born in Wilhelmsberg near Darkehmen
Ozyorsk, Kaliningrad Oblast
Ozyorsk is a town and the administrative center of Ozyorsky District of Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Angrapa River, southeast of Chernyakhovsk near the border with the Polish Warmia-Masuria Voivodship. Population: -Notable residents:...
, East Prussia
East Prussia
East Prussia is the main part of the region of Prussia along the southeastern Baltic Coast from the 13th century to the end of World War II in May 1945. From 1772–1829 and 1878–1945, the Province of East Prussia was part of the German state of Prussia. The capital city was Königsberg.East Prussia...
.
He studied medicine at the University of Königsberg
University of Königsberg
The University of Königsberg was the university of Königsberg in East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 as second Protestant academy by Duke Albert of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina....
where he joined the Corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
Hansea. He became assistant surgeon to Ernst von Bergmann
Ernst von Bergmann
Ernst von Bergmann was a Baltic German surgeon. He is the beginner of aseptic surgery.Born in Riga, Livonia , in 1860 he earned his doctorate at the University of Dorpat, and later returned to Dorpat in 1871, where he was a professor of surgery until 1878...
at the Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 1889 he declined the call to the University of Greifswald
Greifswald
Greifswald , officially, the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald is a town in northeastern Germany. It is situated in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, at an equal distance of about from Germany's two largest cities, Berlin and Hamburg. The town borders the Baltic Sea, and is crossed...
and became a senior lecturer at the Charité
Charité
The Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin is the medical school for both the Humboldt University and the Free University of Berlin. After the merger with their fourth campus in 2003, the Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe....
. In 1890 he was appointed professor (Ordinarius) of surgery at the University of Halle an der Saale, succeeding Richard von Volkmann
Richard von Volkmann
Richard von Volkmann , was a prominent German surgeon and poet.He was born in Leipzig in 1830, the son of A.W. Volkmann. Richard entered medical school in Berlin and graduated in 1854...
.
In 1887-88 he was attending surgeon to the Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
Friedrich Wilhelm
The German name Friedrich Wilhelm usually refers to several monarchs of the Hohenzollern dynasty:*Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg *Frederick William I , King in Prussia*Frederick William II , King of Prussia...
(1831-1888) in San Remo
Sanremo
Sanremo or San Remo is a city with about 57,000 inhabitants on the Mediterranean coast of western Liguria in north-western Italy. Founded in Roman times, the city is best known as a tourist destination on the Italian Riviera. It hosts numerous cultural events, such as the Sanremo Music Festival...
. When Friedrich almost choked on a larynx cancer he encouraged Bramann to perform a tracheostomy. Without waiting for Bergmann's agreement "Fritz" Bramann, known for his icy composure, did so and thus enabled the Prince to ascend to the throne in March 1888. When Kaiser Friedrich III
German Emperor
This article is about the emperors of the German Empire. For full list of German monarchs before 1871, see List of German monarchs.The German Emperor was the official title of the Head of State and ruler of the German Empire, beginning with the proclamation of Wilhelm I as emperor during the...
had died only three months later the autopsy approved Bergmann's diagnosis and Bramann's emergency measure and skipped the former assessment of Morell Mackenzie
Morell Mackenzie
Sir Morell Mackenzie was a British physician, one of the pioneers of laryngology in the United Kingdom.-Biography:...
and Rudolf Virchow
Rudolf Virchow
Rudolph Carl Virchow was a German doctor, anthropologist, pathologist, prehistorian, biologist and politician, known for his advancement of public health...
.
Bramann was known for his use of minimal invasive surgical practices, and his pioneer work in neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
. With neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
Gabriel Anton
Gabriel Anton
Gabriel Anton was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist. He is primarily remembered for his studies of psychiatric conditions arising from damage to the cerebral cortex and the basal ganglia....
(1858-1933), he researched suboccipital puncture
Suboccipital puncture
A suboccipital puncture or cisternal puncture is a diagnostic procedure that can be performed in order to collect a sample of cerebrospinal fluid for biochemical, microbiological, and cytological analysis, or rarely to relieve increased intracranial pressure...
and the Balkenstich method for treatment of hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus , also known as "water in the brain," is a medical condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. This may cause increased intracranial pressure inside the skull and progressive enlargement of the head,...
. The "Balkenstich method" was first introduced in 1908 by Bramann and Anton, and is a procedure in which the corpus callosum
Corpus callosum
The corpus callosum , also known as the colossal commissure, is a wide, flat bundle of neural fibers beneath the cortex in the eutherian brain at the longitudinal fissure. It connects the left and right cerebral hemispheres and facilitates interhemispheric communication...
is pierced for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
.
Bramann despised academic poly-writing and published only some dozens articles and papers.
He was knighted in 1891 and received high decorations for treating German princes and Turkish dignitaries.