Basic Physics Revisited for a Surgeon.

Abstract

Virtually, every act around us, from the falling of an apple to a human falling in love, is explicable in terms of the basic laws of physics and chemistry that govern the running of the universe. Gravitational physics (apple) and hormonal neurochemistry (love) aside, it behooves every surgeon to have a basic understanding of these laws in order to have a three-dimensional view of surgery as not just an art but also as a precision science. It is from science, or how things work, that technology, or how to get things to work, emerges. These laws are not new to the surgeon but he barely makes a conscious effort to apply them. Often they are learnt during the preparation for exams and promptly forgotten soon after. The modern day surgeon has a dazzling set of tools and consequently it is one’s duty to understand the fundamental basis of the functioning of these instruments and tissues that are operated on, which will make one appreciate the nuances of the surgical sciences. These secure modern-day instruments are as safe or hazardous as the person who is using them. For, BA fool with a tool is still a fool^. The understanding of these laws and their application would make a surgeon think more like a scientist. Before the days of John Hunter, who in Eighteenth century presented his research on popliteal artery aneurysm, the general perception about surgeons amongst physicians and other scientists was that of Bable bodied and weak minded barbers^. An effort has therefore been made to elucidate on these issues by taking up few basic laws of physics to explain as to how they can be applied to get better surgical outcomes.