A gigli saw is a simple medical tool that doctors have been using for
centuries. Doctors use it to cut through bone. The saw is composed of a
wire, two handles and a blade.
A gigli saw blade may have small, chain-style pieces that
facilitate easy cutting when the user moves the handles. As the wire
moves, the blade cuts through the bone. The style of the saw makes it
useful for detailed surgical work.
Although new technology has made a lot of traditional medical
tools obsolete, doctors still use gigli saws. These tools are often used
for cutting through the skull in brain surgery. This saw is also used to cut through other bones in other parts of the body.
Older gigli saw designs were used by doctors for amputations and
other common surgeries. Some of these older saws are now medical
antiques that may have collectible value. The handles of the older saws
may be made of wood, or ivory. Modern saws are more likely to use
synthetic materials.
The stark visual image of the gigli saw and its unusual name make
it a candidate for use in some macabre kinds of film and literature.
Such a saw might also be part of a toolkit for medical students who are
working on cadavers. Although the gigli saw is a tool of healing, some
people may find it to be sinister in some contexts.
In the range of modern saws available to surgeons, the gigli saw
represents the unpowered variety. Other unpowered saws include hacksaws
and similar designs. Doctors can also choose powered saw types like
reciprocating saws. Sonic cutting saws provide a smooth result for
today’s surgeries, and engineers are creating some new sonic saws that
can also effectively cut tissue.
One popular feature of the gigli saw is that it is ultra-portable.
The saw takes up almost no space and travels easily. Doctors can get
replacement blades, wires or handles as needed. The design of the gigli
saw remains effective, and that may be one reason that doctors are still
using it for a range of surgical tasks. Medical journals continue to
mention some of the work that physicians are doing with simple tools
like gigli saws, to help broaden the collective knowledge of the
international medical community.
