Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Facial reconstruction in Italy during the First World War

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The field of plastic surgery, and in particular facial reconstruction, advanced rapidly during the First World War, but the Italian contribution is little known.

Methods

This paper explores wartime experience in Italy, with particular reference to the unit of Amedeo Perna in Rome, as illustrated by the diary and photographs taken by Emerin Keene, the daughter of the American Consul-General in Rome in 1918, who worked as a nurse in the Ospedale Stomatoiatrico, located in the Villa Massimo.

Results

The diary of her nursing experience provides an insight into the workings and day-to-day life of the hospital.

Conclusions

Whilst there has been interest in, and publication on developments in Great Britain, France and Germany, no significant review of the Italian experience has been undertaken. This article examines the clinical material described by Emerin Keene and the contributions of other Italian contributors to wartime facial surgery, setting these in the context of developments elsewhere in Europe, but further research on what appears to be extensive Italian work in the First World War seems merited.

Level of Evidence: not ratable

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bamji A (2017) Faces from the front. Harold Gillies, the Queen’s Hospital, Sidcup and the origins of modern plastic surgery. Helion Press, Solihull

    Google Scholar 

  2. For further details see http://www.sanitagrandeguerra.it/index.php/servizio-sanitario-militare/servizio-odontoiatrico

  3. Villain G (ed) (1917) Congrès Interalliés Dentaire: Comptes rendus. Imprimerie Chaix, Paris

  4. Ibid: Chiavaro A. Contribution au traitement des blessures des maxillaires de quelques complications qui les accompagnent, pp 288–292

  5. Ibid: Chiavaro A. Le traitement des blessures des maxillaires et des maladies dentaires dans le hospitaux territoriaux italiens, pp 1207–1214

  6. Ibid: Maggioni A. L'assistance aux mutilés de la face après la guerre, pp 1217–1219

  7. Ibid: Pröia G. Relations clinic-statistique de la section dentaire du centre hospitalier de F…, pp 1345–1347

  8. Ibid: Perna A. Organisation du service de traitement des fractures des maxillaires et des affections dentaires dans la zone de guerre, pp 1214–1217

  9. Ibid: Guerini V. Remarques sur le traitement des fractures et des mutilations maxillaires, pp 322–325

  10. Ibid: Guerini V. Nouvelle méthode et appareil pour la remise en position anatomique des fragments mandibulaires des blesses et mutilés de guerre, pp 384–388

  11. Ibid: Guerini V. Mentonniere et petit casque remplaçant les bandages nuisibles dans les cas de fracture et de mutilation des maxillaires, pp 388–390

  12. Ibid: Chiavaro A. Discours du représantant des délégués des sociétés dentaires alliées adhérentes au Congrès, pp 43–44

  13. Jenkins NS (1924) Reminiscences of Newell Sill Jenkins. University of Princeton Press, Princeton, p 473

    Google Scholar 

  14. Melato M, Rizzardi C (2008) Le radici della moderna professione odontoiatrica in Italia ed il contesto europeo. Firenze University Press, Firenze

    Google Scholar 

  15. See GV (1909) A history of dentistry from the most ancient times until the end of the eighteenth century. Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  16. Iacobacci V (2010) Storia di un dentista napoletano. Flavius Editore, Pompei

    Google Scholar 

  17. Accademia Tedesca Roma: Villa Massimo. See http://www.villamassimo.de/it/informazioni. Accessed 27 July 2018

  18. Anon. Wilkes Barre Times, September 20th 1918

  19. Black C. King’s nurse, Beggar’s nurse. London, Hurst & Blackett, 1939. “Blackie” worked with Gillies at the Cambridge military hospital, Aldershot and was later private nurse to King George V

  20. Eramo S, Bensi C, Belli S, Pagano S (2017) Molto tardi ma troppo presto… il Prof. Angelo Chiavaro e la laurea in odontoiatria Italiana. Acta Med Hist Adriat 15:291–302

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Perna A (1938) Trattato pratico di odontoiatria per medici e studenti. A. Morano, Napoli

    Google Scholar 

  22. Bamji A (2017) Faces from the Front. Helion Press, Solihull, pp 116–117

    Google Scholar 

  23. Ackerman CW (1930) George Eastman: founder of Kodak and the photography business. Beard Books, Washington. (reprinted 2000)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Vicarelli G, Spina E (2015) Professionalization and professionalism: the case of Italian dentistry. Professions and Professionalism 5. https://doi.org/10.7577/pp.1324

  25. For another example see Lawrence K. Altman: Experts re-examine Dr. Reiter, his syndrome and his nazi past. New York Times, March 7th, 2000

Download references

Acknowledgements

Emerin Keene’s album is in the possession of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS), which holds the copyright and to which we are grateful for permission to reproduce the photographs. We are especially grateful to Mr. Roger Green, BAPRAS Archivist, for his advice. The authors would also like to acknowledge Mr. Francis Chute, son of Emerin Chute née Keene, who donated the photograph album to the Royal College of Surgeons and who provided bibliographic background.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Portsmouth Grammar School, High Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2LN, UK

    Emily A. Stone

  2. British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, Royal College of Surgeons, 35-43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3PE, UK

    Andrew N. Bamji

Authors
  1. Emily A. Stone
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Andrew N. Bamji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew N. Bamji.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

 Emily A. Stone and Andrew N. Bamji declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

N/A.

Informed consent

N/A.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Stone, E.A., Bamji, A.N. Facial reconstruction in Italy during the First World War. Eur J Plast Surg 42, 75–84 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-018-1448-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-018-1448-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation