http://all-that-is-interesting.com/symphysiotomy Symphysiotomy: How The Chainsaw Was Originally Invented To Deliver Babies By Katie Serena on December 19, 2017 The original chainsaw was used in a symphysiotomy, the preferred method for quickly removing a child from a woman’s womb for almost three centuries. Wikimedia CommonsThe original osteotome. Before it became the horror-movie murder weapon of choice or the preferred method of chopping down trees, the chainsaw was actually intended to be used in medicine. Specifically, to aid in childbirth. Even though women had been birthing babies since the literal dawn of time, childbirth in the late 18th century was still pretty messy. Anesthesia was still a few years from being perfected, and hospital hygiene was less than up to snuff, not to mention that human beings weren’t as healthy as they are today. Because of this, anytime a woman came in with complications during labor it could be life-threatening. Caesarean sections were considered dangerous because of the high risk of infection, so if a woman could not birth a child naturally, doctors were forced to try alternative methods. One of these methods was a symphysiotomy. Popularized in 1597, the symphysiotomy was the preferred method for quickly removing a child from a woman’s womb for almost three centuries — though it is now, thankfully, almost entirely denounced by medical professionals. During the procedure, a doctor would take a knife and separate the cartilaginous muscle that connects the pubic symphysis to widen the birth canal. In short, he would cut the woman’s pelvis in half. Wikimedia CommonsMedical journal drawings of osteotomes, describing the inner workings. In the mid-1780s two Scottish doctors, John Aitken and James Jeffray, realized that using a knife for a symphysiotomy was time-consuming, often inaccurate, and excruciatingly painful for the patient. In an effort to improve the procedure for everyone, they created a device that would ensure more precision during the cutting, by using a chain that enforced repetitive movements. And thus, the precursor to the modern chainsaw was invented. Initially, the chainsaw consisted of a long chain with serrated teeth, and a handle on each end, similar to a wire saw. The chain would then be wrapped around the pelvic bone, and a doctor would alternate pulling each handle. The movements would slice through the symphysis faster than a knife, and with more precision. Eventually, an orthopaedist named Bernhard Heine improved their invention when he came up with something called an osteotome. Now powered by a hand crank rather than alternated pulling, the serrated chain was looped around a guiding blade, which allowed it to rotate. This allowed the doctor to hold the chainsaw similarly to a knife, but with the newfound precision of the serrated chain. After anesthesia was popularized, the chainsaw’s use in symphysiotomies was widely accepted and even encouraged. Due to its efficiency, it eventually became widely used in other surgeries and dissections as well. Around the turn of the century, however, the symphysiotomy began losing support. A rise in hospital hygiene and general anesthesia made c-sections safer, and doctors realized there was less risk of long-term complications. After all, recovering from a broken pelvis took a lot longer than recovering from a few stitches, and you were more likely to be able to walk after a c-section. However, though they were less useful for surgeries, a San Francisco-based logger realized they could be used for felling giant redwood trees. He modeled his patent for the “endless-chain saw” on Heine’s original osteotome, and applied for a patent in 1905. From there, other inventors and logging tycoons tweaked and remodeled the chainsaw into what we have today — which, thankfully, is no longer used on humans.
Since I’ve completed a surgical residency and done surgery in practice (even though I was just a foot surgeon, a podiatrist) I look at this in complete horror and revulsion. Thank The Lord for modern medicine, even with all its flaws!
The picture that the description painted in my head is unsatisfying. But hey thanks to this wonderful invention we now have chainsaws. Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
It’s still sending shivers up and down my spine. I know a far amount about the history of medicine and surgery, but never knew this. And kinda wish I still didn’t. (Which means I just HAD to share it on the FHC!)
Someday on this forum someone will say "I read that they used to cut people open to fix...." And the same reactions will........
I think they have those in cordless, lithium batter powered versions now..... the 20 volt jobber to make the 'task' go faster. Oh, and that gives new meaning to the phrase 'this is going to hurt you more than it was going to hurt me'. For some strange reason I have a sudden and strong urge to cross my legs and tie the ankles together..... with a steel cable. Final observation: I betcha' the doctors using that thing were all males. Sorry ladies, that thing is truly barbaric. Brian
Then again, if the only options are a 100% chance of dying in a truly difficult child birth, and a 50/50 chance of surviving this technique (and living to talk and walk after it!) a person might reluctantly choose the latter...
Yep, all true enough. But then again, I think most of us -non medicos find a LOT of medical procedures / treatments / tools almost medieval in their look and operation. Many years ago, I had the pleasure to work with a couple of firms that made specialty surgical instruments. One that I was heavily involved was something we called 'the knee- capper'. To install an artificial knee, the OEM knee has to be removed; this surgical device had a pair of hardened cutters, about 2" long, mounted at 80 degrees from the top plate. The whole assembly was placed against a human kneecap, bent at 90 degrees, and struck with a hammer, at which point the two blades broke the outer cap that the surgeon could then remove easily. But honestly, to hear how it worked while looking at it, it really looked more like a torture tool used to extract information from reluctant prisoners. And seriously, I think anyone would tell anything he / she knew merely after having its operation explained 'cause it weren't' a pleasant thing to envision being done. So no knock to doctors, surgeons or the medical industry as a whole but really, some of the tools and procedures are nothing short of gruesome. That thing you posted a picture of included. But as a 21st century American, I do think the cordless, high voltage version would be slick..... Brian
More than likely, when I was a surgical resident, we used that tool when I assisted on literally dozens of knee replacements. Knees, hips, ankles, wrists, elbows etc, it’s all relatively gruesome surgery.
