Amputation
in Ancient
Rome
Anthropologists discovered the first evidence that doctors in ancient times were able
to perform amputations. A 2nd Century skeleton of a tall,
middle or upper middle class man was found in a cemetery near Rome. The thigh
bone has serrated marks that the surgeon’s saw made so long ago. They could see
that the man lived for months or even years after the amputation, because the
bone had begun to heal. This evidence led them to believe that the ancient
surgeons were skilled enough to sew a flap of tissue over the amputated end to
protect it against the air. David Weaver, who is an expert when it comes to
ancient bones, suggests that the man may have worn a wooden leg, because of the
way the end of the bone was worn down.
In these times, amputation was mainly used for removing tissue that was
already dead. This limitation existed because ancient surgical techniques could
not control blood loss (hemorrhaging). Surgeons in ancient Rome solved the
problem by tying off (ligating) the blood vessels during surgery. Later in 1674,
the tourniquet was invented, which allowed for better control of blood flow by
compressing the limb with a cord or tight bandage. Survival rate was very low in
ancient times, and during the Civil War one in every four patients died. This
was mainly due to the unsanitary conditions that left the wound open to
infection.
in Ancient
Rome
Anthropologists discovered the first evidence that doctors in ancient times were able
to perform amputations. A 2nd Century skeleton of a tall,
middle or upper middle class man was found in a cemetery near Rome. The thigh
bone has serrated marks that the surgeon’s saw made so long ago. They could see
that the man lived for months or even years after the amputation, because the
bone had begun to heal. This evidence led them to believe that the ancient
surgeons were skilled enough to sew a flap of tissue over the amputated end to
protect it against the air. David Weaver, who is an expert when it comes to
ancient bones, suggests that the man may have worn a wooden leg, because of the
way the end of the bone was worn down.
In these times, amputation was mainly used for removing tissue that was
already dead. This limitation existed because ancient surgical techniques could
not control blood loss (hemorrhaging). Surgeons in ancient Rome solved the
problem by tying off (ligating) the blood vessels during surgery. Later in 1674,
the tourniquet was invented, which allowed for better control of blood flow by
compressing the limb with a cord or tight bandage. Survival rate was very low in
ancient times, and during the Civil War one in every four patients died. This
was mainly due to the unsanitary conditions that left the wound open to
infection.
Modern
Improvements
Today, anesthesia is used to the patient does not feel the
surgery, and strong painkillers and prescribed afterwards to minimize pain. A
lot of carefully planning is put in before surgery, including what type of
anesthesia to use the level of amputation, arrangements to construct a
prosthetic limb that fits the patient down to the millimeter, and even a
psychological counselor for the patient.
Surgery begins by cutting the skin, then removing dead
tissue, and then cutting nerves higher up than the amputation site to minimize
pain. They also sew the nerve endings to surrounding tissues to control
unwanted regrowth of the nerve. Next, the surgeons ligate the blood vessels
to control blood flow, then they cut through the bones and smooth the
edges, and finally, the surgeon closes the skin around the sight of the
amputation. A drain may be inserted to get rid of excess fluids.
Improvements
Today, anesthesia is used to the patient does not feel the
surgery, and strong painkillers and prescribed afterwards to minimize pain. A
lot of carefully planning is put in before surgery, including what type of
anesthesia to use the level of amputation, arrangements to construct a
prosthetic limb that fits the patient down to the millimeter, and even a
psychological counselor for the patient.
Surgery begins by cutting the skin, then removing dead
tissue, and then cutting nerves higher up than the amputation site to minimize
pain. They also sew the nerve endings to surrounding tissues to control
unwanted regrowth of the nerve. Next, the surgeons ligate the blood vessels
to control blood flow, then they cut through the bones and smooth the
edges, and finally, the surgeon closes the skin around the sight of the
amputation. A drain may be inserted to get rid of excess fluids.
Example in
Pop
Culture
In the MTV’s show Teen Wolf one of the main
characters, Derek Hale, gets shot in the arm with a poisonous bullet, and he
needs an emergency amputation to be performed to save his life. The infection is
spreading up his arm to his heart, so he needs to cut off his arm to stop the
infection from spreading. He ties of his upper arm with a tourniquet and orders
his friend to cut of his arm with an electric saw.
Pop
Culture
In the MTV’s show Teen Wolf one of the main
characters, Derek Hale, gets shot in the arm with a poisonous bullet, and he
needs an emergency amputation to be performed to save his life. The infection is
spreading up his arm to his heart, so he needs to cut off his arm to stop the
infection from spreading. He ties of his upper arm with a tourniquet and orders
his friend to cut of his arm with an electric saw.
