https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1030-5903
Ibrahim M. Eltorai, MD (1920–2022)
Among the early pioneers in the field of spinal cord medicine was Ibrahim M. Eltorai, MD, ChM, FACS, who joined the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California (now the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center), after emigrating from Egypt in 1970. He retired in 2004, having served as chief of the Spinal Cord Injury Service during his tenure.
After earning his medical degree at Cairo University in Egypt, Dr. Eltorai completed postgraduate training in Europe in neurosurgery and cardiovascular surgery and joined the Faculty of the School of Medicine at Cairo University, where he served as a professor of surgery.
In the U.S.A., Dr. Eltorai was active in the leadership of the American Paraplegia Society and was among the original collaborators and early editors of the Journal of the American Paraplegia Society, now the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.Citation1 Dr. Eltorai was a past president of the American Paraplegia Society, which advocated successfully for subspecialty certification for spinal cord medicine.Citation2
His lifelong love of learning was tied to his strong sense of purpose to serve others and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of his patients. In 1999, the American Paraplegia Society honored him with the A. Estin Comarr Memorial Award for Distinguished Clinical Service.Citation3 The American Paraplegia Society is now one of the four professional sections of the Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals, the official sponsor of the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine.
A prolific writer and fluent in eight languages, Dr. Eltorai authored approximately 150 articles during his medical career. His numerous articles in the field of spinal cord injury included contributions to the Journal of Spinal Cord MedicineCitation4–6 and its former title, the Journal of the American Paraplegia Society.Citation7–10 He also edited textbooks on rare diseases of the spinal cordCitation11 and the management of clinical emergencies in patients with spinal cord injury.Citation12
An avid medical historian, Dr. Eltorai believed there was much to be learned from the past. Among his historical writings are a book on the history of ancient Egyptian medicine based on primary sources found in ancient papyri,Citation13 and a journal article detailing the clinical course of President James A. Garfield, 20th president of the U.S.A., who was paralyzed by a gunshot wound to the spine.Citation6 Dr. Eltorai’ s detailed description was included in the national best seller, “Destiny of the Republic: A tale of madness, medicine and the murder of a president.”Citation14
Witnessing the growth of spinal cord medicine was more than a passing interest to Dr. Eltorai—it was history in the making. Throughout his career, Dr. Eltorai documented developments in the field of spinal cord injury medicine, compiling a comprehensive historical collection currently housed at the offices of the Paralyzed Veterans of America in Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. Eltorai passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his family on April 28, 2022, in Huntington Beach, California. He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Salwa Abaza Eltorai, and is survived by four children, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
References
- Murphy C. JSCM: this journal’s journey. J Spinal Cord Med 2010;33(1):2–5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2010.11689668.
- DeLisa JA. Subspecialty certification in spinal cord injury medicine: past, present, and future. J Spinal Cord Med 1999;22(3):218–25. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.1999.11719571.
- Bodner DR. The Comarr Memorial Award for distinguished clinical service: the legacy of A. Estin Comarr, MD. J Spinal Cord Med 2009;32(3):213–4. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2009.11760775.
- Eltorai IM, Montroy RE, Kobayashi M, Jakowatz J, Guttierez J. Marjolin's Ulcer in patients with spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med 2002;25(3):191–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2002.11753621.
- Eltorai IM, Montroy RE, Kaplan SL, Ho WH. Pneumocephalus secondary to cerebrospinal fluid leak associated with a lumbar pressure ulcer in a man with paraplegia. J Spinal Cord Med 2003;26(3):262–9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2003.11753695.
- Eltorai IM. Fatal spinal cord injury of the 20th President of the United States: day–by-–day review of his clinical course, with comments. J Spinal Cord Med 2004;27(4):330–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2004.11753771.
- Eltorai I. Update on pressure ulcers. J Am Paraplegia Soc 1982;5(2):21–3. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01952307.1982.11735960.
- Vaziri ND, Mirahmadi MK, Barton CH, Eltorai IM, Gordon S, Byrne C, et al. Clinicopathological characteristics of dialysis patients with spinal cord injury. J Am Paraplegia Soc 1985;6(1):3–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01952307.1983.11735969.
- Eltorai IM. The Girdlestone procedure in spinal cord injured patients: a ten year experience. J Am Paraplegia Soc 1983;6(4):85–6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01952307.1983.11735991.
- Zhou XJ, Vaziri ND, Segal JL, Winer RL, Eltorai IM, Brunnemann SR. Effects of chronic spinal cord injury and pressure ulcer on 25(OH)-vitamin D levels. J Am Paraplegia Society 1993;16(1):9–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01952307.1993.11735877.
- Eltorai IM. Rare diseases and syndromes of the spinal cord. Switzerland: ©2016 Springer International Publishing; [eBook ISBN978-3-319-45147-3].
- Eltorai IM, Schmitt JK. (eds). Emergencies in chronic spinal cord injury. New York, NY: ©2002 Demos Medical Publishing; [ISBN-13: 978-0970887320; ISBN-10: 0970887329].
- Eltorai IM. A spotlight on the history of ancient Egyptian medicine. Boca Raton, FL: ©2019 CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Publishing; [eBook ISBN9780429317354].
- Millard C. Destiny of the republic: a tale of madness, medicine and the murder of a president. New York, NY: © 2011 C. Millard, published by Doubleday, division of Random House.