Józef Brudzinski
Encyclopedia
Józef Polikarp Brudziński (26 January 1874, Bolewo
– 18 December 1917) was a Polish pediatrician who was born in the village of Bolewo
(now in Mława County).
He studied medicine in Tartu
and Moscow
, and in 1897 moved to Krakow
, where he trained in pediatrics
. Later he worked in Graz
under Theodor Escherich
(1867-1911), and in Paris
with Doctors Jacques-Joseph Grancher
(1843-1907), Antoine Marfan
(1858-1942 ) and Victor Henri Hutinel
(1849-1933).
In 1903 he practiced medicine at the Anne-Marie Kinderhospital in Łódź, and in 1910 moved to Warsaw
where he designed a children's hospital with financial assistance from philanthropist Sophie Szlenker. He was a catalyst in the re-establishment of a Polish university in Warsaw
, where in 1915 he became rector
. In 1908 he founded the first Polish journal of pediatrics, titled Przegląd Pedyatryczny.
Brudziński is remembered for his work involving prophylaxis of infectious diseases in children, and the study of neurological
signs associated with meningitis
. Today his name is lent to four eponymous medical signs associated with reflexes observed in meningitis.
Bolewo
Bolewo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Stupsk, within Mława County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south of Stupsk, south of Mława, and north-west of Warsaw.-References:...
– 18 December 1917) was a Polish pediatrician who was born in the village of Bolewo
Bolewo
Bolewo is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Stupsk, within Mława County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south of Stupsk, south of Mława, and north-west of Warsaw.-References:...
(now in Mława County).
He studied medicine in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, and in 1897 moved to Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, where he trained in pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
. Later he worked in Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
under Theodor Escherich
Theodor Escherich
Theodor Escherich was a German-Austrian pediatrician and a professor at universities in Graz, and Vienna...
(1867-1911), and in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
with Doctors Jacques-Joseph Grancher
Jacques-Joseph Grancher
Jacques-Joseph Grancher was a French pediatrician who was born in Felletin. In 1865 he earned his medical degree, and afterwards was director of a pathological anatomy laboratory in Clamart . From 1885 until his death in 1907 he was director of Hôpital des Enfants Malades in Paris...
(1843-1907), Antoine Marfan
Antoine Marfan
Antoine Bernard-Jean Marfan was a French pediatrician. He was born in Castelnaudary to Antoine Prosper Marfan and Adélaïde Thuries....
(1858-1942 ) and Victor Henri Hutinel
Victor Henri Hutinel
Victor Henri Hutinel was a French physician who was a native of Châtillon-sur-Seine, Côte-d'Or. He specialized in pediatric medicine and childhood diseases....
(1849-1933).
In 1903 he practiced medicine at the Anne-Marie Kinderhospital in Łódź, and in 1910 moved to Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
where he designed a children's hospital with financial assistance from philanthropist Sophie Szlenker. He was a catalyst in the re-establishment of a Polish university in Warsaw
University of Warsaw
The University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and one of the most prestigious, ranked as best Polish university in 2010 and 2011...
, where in 1915 he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
. In 1908 he founded the first Polish journal of pediatrics, titled Przegląd Pedyatryczny.
Brudziński is remembered for his work involving prophylaxis of infectious diseases in children, and the study of neurological
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
signs associated with meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
. Today his name is lent to four eponymous medical signs associated with reflexes observed in meningitis.
- Brudziński's neck signBrudziński neck signThe Brudziński neck sign or Brudziński's symptom is a clinical sign in which forced flexion of the neck elicits a reflex flexion of the hips...
: With the patient lying on his back and the neck is bent forward, reflective flexion of the knees take place. - Brudziński's symphyseal signBrudziński symphyseal signThe Brudziński symphyseal sign is a clinical sign in which pressure on the pubic symphysis elicits a reflex flexion of the hip and knee, and abduction of the leg. It is found in patients with meningitis, and is analogous to the Brudziński cheek sign in the upper limb.The sign is named after Józef...
: Pressure over symphysis pubisPubic symphysisThe pubic symphysis or symphysis pubis is the midline cartilaginous joint uniting the superior rami of the left and right pubic bones. It is located anterior to the urinary bladder and superior to the external genitalia; for females it is above the vulva and for males it is above the penis...
leads to knee, hip flexion and leg abduction. - Brudziński's cheek phenomenonBrudziński cheek signThe Brudziński cheek sign or Brudziński's cheek phenomenon is a clinical sign in which pressure on the cheek elicits a reflex rise and flexion of the forearm. It is found in patients with meningitis, and is analogous to the Brudziński symphyseal sign in the lower limb.The sign is named after Józef...
: Pressure beneath the zygomatic boneZygomatic boneThe zygomatic bone is a paired bone of the human skull. It articulates with the maxilla, the temporal bone, the sphenoid bone and the frontal bone. The zygomatic is homologous to the jugal bone of other tetrapods...
leads to flexion of the forearmForearm-See also:*Forearm flexors*Forearm muscles...
. - Brudziński's reflex: Passive flexion of one knee into the abdomen leads to involuntary flexion in the opposite leg, and stretching of a limb that was flexed leads to contralateral extension.