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Western Front, 1914-18: Experiments in medicine (Mobile x rays (There were…
Western Front, 1914-18: Experiments in medicine
New techniques
Brain surgery
New techniques for dealing with brain injuries were developed for the Western Front that included using a magnet to remove metal fragment from the brain
A local anaethetic was used in operations rather than a general anethestic- This prevented the brain from swelling and decreased the risks in an operation
Plastic surgery
A New Zealand doctor, Harold Gillies was sent to the Western Front in 1915. Gillies became interested in facial reconstruction- replacing and restoring parts of the face that had been destroyed by the weapons of war
Skin grafts were developed, where skin was taken from another part of the patient's body and used to repair the wound
Thomas Splint
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From 1916, the Thomas Splint was used, which stopped two joints moving and increased the survival rate from this type of wound to 82%
Mobile x rays
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Transported around the Western Front in a truck, enabling more soldiers to be treated quickly
The mobile X-ray unit could go to the location of a battle, rather than wait for soldiers to be transported
The quality of X rays taken by the mobile units was not as good, but proved sufficient to locate bullets and shapnel
Blood bank
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Blood bank at Cambrai
In 1915 it was discovered that by adding sodium citrate to blood the need for donor-to- recipient transfusion was removed as blood could be stored and clotting prevented
In 1916 it was discovered that adding a citrate glucose solution to blood allowed it be stored for up to four weeks
Stored blood was used at the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Blood was stored in glass bottles at a blood bank and used to treat badly wounded soldiers throughout the battle