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Feb 20 2014

How Amputation Works

55 min 9 movies discussed
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Amputation is one of the oldest surgeries and an even older punishment for crime, but it wasn't until the American Civil War and its 50,000 amputations that the procedure began to hit its stride. Learn about amputation and who it attracts in this episode.

AI Summary

Josh and Chuck dive into the history and process of amputation surgery, from Aaron Ralston's famous self-amputation in Utah to the grisly medical practices of the Civil War. They explore the fascinating evolution of surgical techniques, from ancient Roman wine-and-vinegar antiseptics to modern prosthetics, while also tackling some surprising topics like phantom limb pain and the unexpected frequency of wrong-limb surgeries. The episode balances the serious medical science with their trademark humor, making this potentially heavy subject both informative and surprisingly engaging.


Movies Discussed

127 Hours
127 Hours
2010 1h 34m
★ 7.1
"There's 127 hours, right? — Referenced when discussing Aaron Ralston's story of self-amputation, which was adapted into this film." — Chuck
Boxing Helena
Boxing Helena
1993 1h 47m
★ 5.0
"Boxing Helena. Oh yeah. Boy, that was awful. — Mentioned as an example of movies dealing with amputation themes, noted as being notoriously bad." — Chuck
Crash
Crash
1996 1h 40m
★ 6.5
"If you haven't seen the David Cronenberg movie Crash — Referenced when discussing paraphilias and sexual attraction to people with disabilities or injuries." — Josh
First Blood
First Blood
1982 1h 33m
★ 7.5
"I put first blood on my list — Chuck mentions adding this Rambo film to his list of hundred greatest movies of all time." — Chuck
Hey Dude
Hey Dude
1989
★ 6.8
"stars of the cult classic show, Hey Dude — Mentioned in an advertisement for a podcast about the 90s hosted by stars of the show."
Poltergeist
Poltergeist
1982 1h 54m
★ 7.2
"and the dial-up sound like poltergeist? — Referenced in an advertisement comparing dial-up internet sounds to the movie."
Rambo III
Rambo III
1988 1h 42m
★ 6.2
"Do you remember in Rainbow Three, when he gets shot in the side — Josh references a scene where the character cauterizes his own wound, relating to their discussion of cauterization in medical history." — Josh
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come
2026 1h 48m
★ 7.0
"Have you seen her? Yeah, just saw it. God, that is a good movie. — Casual discussion between hosts about recent movies they've watched." — Josh
Seinfeld
Seinfeld
1989
★ 8.3
"You have any junior mints on you? — Josh makes a reference to the famous Seinfeld episode where Junior Mints fall into a patient during surgery." — Josh

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