54 Medical Advancements Caused By WWII

Introduction

World War II (1939-1945) was a time of significant medical advancements driven by the urgent need to address the medical challenges posed by the war. Everything from dental practices to healing gunshot wounds was significantly improved during the war and were brought back to the civilian world during and after the war ended. We can trace back some of today’s medical practices to their crude and very basic discoveries during this war. Some notable medical developments during this period are listed below.

Connection to STS

Medicine is one of the worlds biggest industry’s and is all rooted in science and technology. Especially in modern times, hospitals have all kinds of machinery and electronic tools that they use to correctly diagnose patients and offer them treatments. However, all of this technology can be traced back to very basic discoveries of medicinal practices, which most of them were discovered during a war. This essay focuses on the medicine that was invented during WWII and we can see very clearly from the information presented how the medicine invented back then plays a role in society today.

Breakthroughs

      Penicillin: The mass production of penicillin during World War II marked a major breakthrough in medicine. Penicillin, the first widely used antibiotic, was crucial in treating bacterial infections and saved countless lives. It became widely available in the latter half of the war and revolutionized the treatment of wounds and infections.

Blood Transfusions and Blood Banking: The demand for blood transfusions during the war led to the establishment of blood banks and improved techniques for storing and transporting blood. This significantly enhanced the ability to provide timely and adequate blood transfusions to wounded soldiers, reducing mortality rates.

Advancements in Surgery: World War II saw advancements in surgical techniques, particularly in the field of orthopedic and plastic surgery. The need to treat complex injuries, including fractures and burns, led to innovations in reconstructive surgery and the development of new materials and techniques for bone and tissue repair.

Dental Health: The war had a positive impact on dental health. Routine dental examinations and treatment became a requirement for military service, leading to improved dental care practices and overall oral health.

Mobile Medical Units: The establishment of mobile medical units, often referred to as MASH units (Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals), brought medical care closer to the front lines. These units were equipped with advanced medical facilities and played a crucial role in providing rapid and effective medical care to wounded soldiers.

Amputation Techniques and Prosthetics: Advances in amputation techniques and the development of more functional prosthetics occurred during World War II. Improved materials and designs for artificial limbs contributed to better rehabilitation for amputees.

Conclusion

These medical advancements made during World War II not only saved lives on the battlefield but also had a lasting impact on civilian healthcare, contributing to the foundation of modern medicine.

Chapter Questions

1. What are two medical advancements made during WWII that acted as a foundation for modern medicine?
2. What were mobile medical units often referred to as?

AI Use disclosure

I used scite.ai and ChatGPT to help me find information about medical advancements during WWII that fit the goal of this chapter of the textbook. It gave me sources that have been peer reviewed and have more accurate information than just a google search. I then used these sources and others  along with ChatGPT to create this chapter.

Refernces

Everts, S. (2023, June 2). A brief history of chemical war. Science History Institute. https://sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/a-brief-history-of-chemical-war/.

R.L., A. (2006, August). Review of The medical response to trench nephritis in world war 1. Web of Science.

Samuel, L. (2017, November 10). 6 medical innovations that moved from the battlefield to mainstream medicine. STAT. https://www.statnews.com/2017/11/10/medical-innovations-war/#:~:text=War%20also%20brought%20about%20the,respect%2C%20production%2C%20and%20use.

Vergun, D. (2020, March 17). Medical improvements saved many lives during World War II. U.S. Department of Defense. https://www.defense.gov/News/Feature-Stories/story/Article/2115192/medical-improvements-saved-many-lives-during-world-war-ii/.

World to benefit by war medicine. (1918, December 29). New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2023, from https://www.proquest.com/hnpnewyorktimes/docview/99988999/242C66EA17FB423CPQ/2?accountid=6167.

World War 2 weapons. World War 2 Weapons. (n.d.). http://www.history-of-american-wars.com/world-war-2-weapons.html.