Joseph Buford Pennybacker CBE MD FRCS (1907-1983): Continuing Sir Hugh Cairns’ Oxford Legacy and Pioneer of the Modern Management of Cerebral Abscesses

TY - JOUR

T1 - Joseph Buford Pennybacker CBE MD FRCS (1907-1983): Continuing Sir Hugh Cairns’ Oxford Legacy and Pioneer of the Modern Management of Cerebral Abscesses

AU - Visagan, Ravindran

AU - Ellis, Harold

PY - 2017/2/6

Y1 - 2017/2/6

N2 - The authors examine the life and contribution of Joseph Buford Pennybacker to British neurosurgery and the modern management of cerebral abscesses. Pennybacker’s inspirational journey began with him aspiring to Ephraim McDowell. It saw him cross the Atlantic, learn medicine at Edinburgh, train in neurology at Queen Square in London and learn neurosurgery under Sir Hugh Cairns in Oxford. He navigated a successful career through World War Two and together with Cairns established the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford as a highly esteemed neurosurgical unit. By increasing the operative tempo yet uncompromising the meticulousness of his operative technique, Pennybacker challenged the Halstedian and Cushing traditions. The pioneering Pennybacker system of managing cerebral abscesses stood the test of time and the ethos of pre-operative imaging, intervention and post-operative monitoring - clinically, biochemically and with imaging results remains today. Not only did he contribute significantly to British neurosurgery and the training of both home-grown and international neurosurgeons, he was a remarkably kind-hearted and calm person. These qualities inspired many of his contemporaries and junior colleagues and we hope will continue to do so for generations to come.

AB - The authors examine the life and contribution of Joseph Buford Pennybacker to British neurosurgery and the modern management of cerebral abscesses. Pennybacker’s inspirational journey began with him aspiring to Ephraim McDowell. It saw him cross the Atlantic, learn medicine at Edinburgh, train in neurology at Queen Square in London and learn neurosurgery under Sir Hugh Cairns in Oxford. He navigated a successful career through World War Two and together with Cairns established the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford as a highly esteemed neurosurgical unit. By increasing the operative tempo yet uncompromising the meticulousness of his operative technique, Pennybacker challenged the Halstedian and Cushing traditions. The pioneering Pennybacker system of managing cerebral abscesses stood the test of time and the ethos of pre-operative imaging, intervention and post-operative monitoring - clinically, biochemically and with imaging results remains today. Not only did he contribute significantly to British neurosurgery and the training of both home-grown and international neurosurgeons, he was a remarkably kind-hearted and calm person. These qualities inspired many of his contemporaries and junior colleagues and we hope will continue to do so for generations to come.

KW - British neurosurgery

KW - cerebral abscess

KW - Joseph Pennybacker

U2 - 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.01.113

DO - 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.01.113

M3 - Article

SN - 1878-8750

JO - World Neurosurgery

JF - World Neurosurgery

ER -