Amputations The most common surgery performed in the Civil War is amputations. 3 out of 4 operations were amputations. Usually when a soldier was struck by a Minie Ball if it hit the bone; the bone would splinter. It would usually carry skin and dirt into the wound. The surgeon's only option was usually amputation. The survival rate for amputations done in the first 24 hours after an injury was very good, with only 25% mortality. When amputations were …showed first 75 words of 246 total…

…showed last 75 words of 246 total…take a scalpel and slice through the outlying tissue and flesh. Then he would use a hacksaw-like tool called a capital saw to saw through the bone. It had replaceable blades. After the bone and flesh was all sliced off, then he used cotton sutures too sew the major arteries and veins together. The limb would be dropped on a pile that got thrown out after the day. Time was of the essence. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ **Bibliography**