Medieval surgery
Surgery was one of the few areas where there was progress in medieval medicine. This was because the number of wars across Europe, such as the Crusades, gave surgeons many patients on whom to experiment with new techniques.
Medieval techniques
Trepanning
trepanningA surgical operation which involves cutting a hole in the skull and removing a piece of bone. was a procedure where a hole was cut in the top of someone鈥檚 skull. This was thought to allow 鈥榖ad spirits鈥 to escape the body. Most people died. However, archaeological evidence shows regrowth on some skulls, meaning people sometimes survived this surgery.
Although the effectiveness of this operation has long been discredited, the fact that some people survived the procedure shows that the surgeons must have been quite skilled.
Cauterisation
cauteriseThe burning, searing or freezing of tissue to close a wound. was a process used to stop bleeding. It involved heating a piece of iron in a fire and pressing it onto a wound. This would seal the blood vessels, but it also risked a severe burn and caused pain for the patient. Additionally, there was a high chance of it causing infection and death.
Anaesthetics
In medieval times, surgeons experimented with anaestheticA drug that causes loss of feeling or consciousness. to try to help patients experience less pain during operations. These were often herbal mixtures, made using ingredients such as opiumA chemical compound that is extracted from the poppy plant and was used as a sedative during surgery in medieval times. or hemlockA poisonous plant and was used as a sedative during surgery in medieval times. However, most surgery took place without the use of anaesthetics. Patients were held down while a surgeon carried out the operation.
Important medieval surgeons
John Bradmore
John Bradmore was a surgeon when Henry IV was king. Henry鈥檚 son was shot in the cheek by an arrow. Bradmore used honey and wine as an antisepticA substance that kills or stops the growth of germs which cause disease. He also invented a medical instrument to safely remove the arrowhead. The young prince made a full recovery and later became Henry V.
Bradmore later wrote about the methods he had used to treat Henry. This was important in communicating his new techniques, so other surgeons could learn from him.
Hugh and Theodoric of Lucca
Hugh of Lucca and his son, Theodoric, were Italian surgeons. They questioned the idea of GalenA Roman doctor who lived from AD129 to approximately AD203. He revived Hippocrates' ideas and encouraged bloodletting as a treatment, after learning about anatomy from treating injured gladiators. that pus in a wound was a sign that it was healing. To clean wounds, they used wine, which has antiseptic properties. Theodoric of Lucca also experimented with herbal remedies as anaesthetics.
Barber surgeons
As well as cutting hair, barbers in Britain carried out basic surgery. They would carry out procedures such as removing teeth, amputationThe removal of a limb, for example an arm or leg. and bloodlettingThe process of bleeding a patient, either by using leeches or by cutting into a vein. They would also work with the army and help to treat injured soldiers at times of war.
Question
Which factors helped medieval surgery to improve?
War gave surgeons more people to practise on. Books written by surgeons such as John Bradmore helped to communicate new ideas. Key individuals such as Bradmore and also Hugh and Theodoric of Lucca made significant discoveries.