Orthopedics: historical origin, teaching in Brazil, and methodological studies worldwide <b>[Abstract in English]</b>

Abstract

Objectives: To report a brief history of Orthopedics, describing its teaching in Brazil, and to check concerns from authors worldwide regarding teaching methodology of that specialty.
Methods: A search was carried out at PubMed, from the latest 10 years of publication at Brazilian Journal of Orthopaedics [Revista Brasileira de Ortopedia], and at sites from Brazilian and regional Orthopedics societies.
Results: The history of Orthopedics starts with the primitive man, passing through Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Arabs. After years of little importance during Middle Age, it is reborn at the 12th Century, and arrives at the 20th Century, paradoxically developing with the Great Wars. During the 21st Century, teaching in Brazil is anchored by Brazilian Society of Orthopedics; worldwide, authors show concern to identify failures in teaching methods, so that solutions that follow the speed of technology and new sets of knowledge can be proposed.
Conclusion: The long history of Orthopedics teaching, which started with the primitive man, currently proceeds with increasing challenges, in an ever lasting quest of viable solutions.
KEY WORDS: ORTHOPEDICS/history; ORTHOPEDICS/ education; EDUCATION, MEDICAL/methods.