Alexey Georgievich Baindurashvili

Abstract

Alexey Georgievich Baindurashvili, MD, PhD, Doctor of Medicine, Professor, Full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, President of H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Children’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, laureate of the Russian Federation Government Prize, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation, and Chief Pediatric orthopedic and trauma surgeon of St. Petersburg, celebrates his 75^th anniversary.

Full Text

Alexey Georgievich Baindurashvili was born on August 26, 1947, in the city of Gori, Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. In 1971, after graduating from the First Pavlov Leningrad Medical Institute, he was employed at the H.I. Turner Scientific and Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics.

From the very beginning of his work at the institute, Alexey Georgievich was involved in scientific research under the guidance of his beloved mentor Professor N.D. Kazantseva. In 1981, he defended his Ph.D. thesis titled “Prevention of Child Home Traumatism in Leningrad.” His subsequent scientific work focused on the development of the surgical treatment of severe third degree burns in children, especially since he headed the burn department at the institute until he became a supervisor. In 1993, he defended his doctoral dissertation titled “Early Surgical Treatment of Deep Burns in Children.”

In 1986, he started teaching at the Department of Pediatric Traumatology and Orthopedics of the St. Petersburg Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education (now the Mechnikov North Western State Medical University), and from 2001 till the present time, he has been the head of the department.

In 2005, Alexey Georgievich headed the Turner Scientific and Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics of the Ministry of Health of Russia, and in 2020, he was elected president of the H.I. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Russia. As a director, Alexey Georgievich turned his efforts to the development and modernization of the institute. Being energetic, decent, intelligent, charismatic, economic, high-class surgeon, innovator, and devoted to his profession, Alexey Georgievich managed to transform the institute into a leader in providing trauma and orthopedic care to the pediatric population of the Russian Federation and make it one of the best children’s orthopedic clinics. Thanks to the efforts of Alexey Georgievich, the construction of the medical building was completed, which had been constructed since 1988, new departments were opened, old ones were radically reconstructed at the modern level, conditions of stay in the hospital for children and their parents improved, the operating rooms were modernized and their number increased five times, and the quality orthopedic and traumatological care for children improved significantly. The historical building of the institute in St. Petersburg on Lakhtinskaya Street was overhauled, where a multidisciplinary consultative and diagnostic center with a day hospital and an operating room for minimally invasive operations is presently located. In 2019, by the order of the Russian Ministry of Health, the institute was included in the network of national medical research centers for clinical, scientific, and organizational achievements.

In 2021, Alexey Georgievich celebrated his 50^th work anniversary at the Turner Center, and to this day, he preserves carefully and passes across the generations the traditions of benevolence and humanity, founded by the main scientific inspirer of the institute, Henry Ivanovich Turner.

Nearly all the work biography of Alexey Georgievich Baindurashvili is associated with research activities. He made a great contribution to the development of pediatric orthopedics, traumatology, transplantology, reconstructive plastic surgery and microsurgery, combustiology, vertebrology, neonatal orthopedics, and systemic diseases. He substantiated scientifically the principles and criteria for early surgical treatment of children with severe burns, developed algorithms for restorative treatment, and created a system of preventive measures to stabilize the traumatism of the pediatric population. He authored works on the issues of reconstructive plastic surgery using microsurgical methods in children with burns, congenital malformations, and post-traumatic deformities of the musculoskeletal system. He was one of the first to use cell cultures to stimulate regenerative processes on the burn surface. Alexey Georgievich is the founder of neonatal orthopedics. He substantiated scientifically the expediency of early reconstructive and restorative surgeries for congenital malformations of the skeleton, starting from the neonatal period, and formulated the conditions for normal growth and development of limbs. Academician A.G. Baindurashvili guided and personally participated in the introduction of the latest methods for diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal disorders and the development of new surgical technologies, which are recognized and successfully used in Russia and other countries for the treatment of orthopedic pathologies in pediatric patients. Modern computer technologies have been developed in performing surgical interventions, including methods of hip arthroplasty in adolescents, which was confirmed by an investigation of the scientific and clinical treatment outcomes of 500 adolescents aged 16–18 years with severe coxarthrosis over a period of 10 years.

In the H.I. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, with the participation of Alexey Georgievich, specialized centers were created, that is, the only in Russia, the Federal Children’s Center for Spinal Injuries and Spinal Cord Injuries and the Federal Center for Pediatric Traumatology. These centers provide comprehensive specialized care throughout the country. Based on scientific, clinical, organizational, and methodological developments, the Arthrogryposis Center was opened for the treatment of children with disability and severe congenital limb deformities, and the “Spina Bifida” center was created for providing multidisciplinary care to children with orthopedic complications of spina bifida.

For significant achievements in the field of medicine, Baindurashvili et al. received “Prizvaniye,” the national award given to the best doctors of Russia, three times (2008, 2012, and 2018).

An important contribution of Alexey Georgievich to the development of pediatric orthopedics is his work as a leader in the scientific and pedagogical school Pediatric Traumatology and Orthopedics, which trains young specialists. Subsequently, a program of distance learning and counseling for children’s orthopedic doctors on wound care standards and new methods of surgical treatment based on telemedicine technologies was developed.

Baindurashvili is the author of >550 scientific papers, 11 monographs, chapters in 6 manuals for doctors, >20 textbooks and guidelines for doctors, and >15 inventions. He prepared 12 PhD specialists. He is a member of the Dissertation Council of the St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, the joint dissertation council of the R.R. Vreden Russian Scientific Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, and S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy.

Under the leadership of Baindurashvili, the first and so far the only joint research work of the Union State titled, “Development of new spinal systems using prototyping technologies in the surgical treatment of children with severe congenital deformities and injuries of the spine,” was completed.

Regarding scientific and medical research in the field of pediatric orthopedics and traumatology and significant scientific results, Alexey Georgievich Baindurashvili was elected a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2011 and an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2016.

Baindurashvili is the founder and editor-in-chief of the journal Pediatric Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Reconstructive Surgery, which was included by the Higher Attestation Commission in the list of leading peer-reviewed scientific journals and publications. He is a member of the editorial boards of scientific journals N.N. Priorov Journal of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Traumatology and Orthopedics of Russia, Russian Bulletin of Pediatric Surgery, Anesthesiology, and Resuscitation, Spine Surgery, etc.

Alexey Georgievich is a world-class scientist. He combines his scientific, pedagogical, medical, and organizational work with active social and international activities, that is, he holds the positions of the Chief Visiting Pediatric Traumatologist-Orthopedist of the Health Committee of the Government of St. Petersburg, President of the Association of Pediatric Orthopedists and Traumatologists of St. Petersburg, which he founded, Vice President of the Association of Traumatologists and Orthopedists of Russia, Member of the International Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie), European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society, etc.

For merits in the field of healthcare and many years of conscientious work, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Alexey Georgievich was awarded the honorary title of Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation in 2008. Baindurashvili received the international award of St. Andrew the First-Called “For Faith and Loyalty” for selfless service to children, Order of Honor, Certificate of Merit of the President of the Russian Federation. In 2018, he was awarded with the I.P. Pavlov prize in the field of physiology and medicine of the Russian Federation. Among the numerous awards and medals, he received the P.I. Pirogov Big Gold Medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences for fundamental and applied research in the field of pediatric traumatology and orthopedics and medals “In memory of the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg,” “For Merit to the National Healthcare,” “G.A. Bairov Order of Merit in the Field of Pediatric Surgery,” and N.A. Semashko Medal. Alexey Georgievich received merit badges “For Merit to the Pushkinsky district of St. Petersburg,” “For Mercy,” “Excellence in Public Healthcare,” “Honorary Donor,” “Labour Merit of Russia,” “For Merit to St. Petersburg,” and “For a Special Contribution to the Development of St. Petersburg.” He has numerous letters of acknowledgment and certificates of honor from the Governor of St. Petersburg, administration of the Pushkinsky district, Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Northwestern Federal District, and Health Committee. A.G. Baindurashvili was also awarded the title of honorary resident of the city of Pushkin for special merits made for the benefit of the city and its inhabitants. In 2022, Alexey Georgievich received the honorary Ludwig Nobel Prize, which is awarded to significant people of our time for outstanding professional achievements and unconditional services to humanity.

Dear Alexey Georgievich, we congratulate you on your anniversary!

For us, Turnerites, you are always an inspiring foregoer and a lodestar. Thank you for your kindness, patience, and attention to the team and each patient. May success always accompany you. Your health grows stronger and does not fade. We wish you peace, kindness, and optimism! We wish you to be always a charming, reliable, and wonderful person.

Having collected a bouquet of beautiful words,

We hasten to congratulate you soon!

It is not a secret for anyone

That you are the most big-hearted in the world!

Everything about you is talent and beauty!

You have a quick wit and a cheerful spirit!

And broad horizons!

You are the best friend for your colleagues!

We wish you wholeheartedly

Retain triumph!

Be healthy, live luxuriously!

And do not lose optimism!

Administration, academic council, and staff of the H.I. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery.

Association of Children’s Orthopedists and Traumatologists of St. Petersburg.

Editorial staff of the journal Pediatric Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Reconstructive Surgery