Photography in the operating theatre

Abstract

Photography in the operating theatre is intended to provide a record of a rare — or possibly typical — condition. A condition which is altered as a result of surgical intervention may lose its teaching value. It is also possible to use photography in order to record a particular surgical technique, which can then be used as an original for a drawing, or as slide material for the lecture theatre. A photographic record is often necessary to illustrate published papers. However, we believe that graphic representations rightly take pride of place in textbooks on surgical technique and that photographs should rather play a subordinate or complementary role in that context. Drawings have certainly not lost their importance; in contrast to photographs they can be used to illustrate principles and to emphasize important points, while omitting less important features (Figs. 81 and 82). In this case photography is merely a drawing aid. Nevertheless, it is important that the photographer should produce pictures of good quality.