Al-Zahrawi surgical instruments and techniques: a milestone in the history of surgery

Abstract

Background and aims. Abu al-Qasim Al-Zahrawi (936–1013), known in Western literature as Albucasis, is recognized as one of the founders of modern surgery. Practicing in medieval Andalusia, he played a decisive role in transforming surgery into a systematized medical discipline. His major work, Kitāb al-Taṣrīf, a 30-volume medical encyclopedia, synthesized the surgical knowledge of his era and profoundly influenced European medicine for several centuries. The aim of this article is to examine Albucasis’ contributions to the development of medieval surgery, focusing on instrumentation, and the educational influence of Kitāb al- Taṣrīf on European medical practice.

Methods. A narrative and historical analysis of open-access secondary sources was conducted, including the text of Kitāb al-Taṣrīf in medieval Latin translations, and modern academic literature indexed in international databases.

Results. Albucasis described advanced surgical procedures in pediatric, abdominal, orthopedic, and urological surgery and introduced more than 200 original surgical instruments, many of which became prototypes of modern tools. He emphasized the need to adapt operative techniques to the physiological particularities of children and highlighted the importance of clinical experience. The Latin translation of Al-Taṣrīf in the 12th century facilitated the integration of his principles into European universities.

Conclusions. Kitāb al-Taṣrīf remains a fundamental work in the history of surgery, and the principles formulated by Albucasis continue to influence medical education and modern surgical practice.