Jean-René Sigault (born 1738) was a French surgeon. Born in

Dijon Dijon (, ; ; in Burgundian language (Oïl), Burgundian: ''Digion'') is a city in and the Prefectures in France, prefecture of the Côte-d'Or Departments of France, department and of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Regions of France, region in eas ...

, he studied medicine at

Angers Angers (, , ;) is a city in western France, about southwest of Paris. It is the Prefectures of France, prefecture of the Maine-et-Loire department and was the capital of the province of Duchy of Anjou, Anjou until the French Revolution. The i ...

and was interested in the obstetrics and operation of the

pubic symphysis The pubic symphysis (: symphyses) is a secondary cartilaginous joint between the left and right superior rami of the pubis of the hip bones. It is in front of and below the urinary bladder. In males, the suspensory ligament of the penis attache ...

that Severin Pineau proposed in 1597. He defended his thesis on this subject in 1773 under the title ''An in partu contra natura sectio symphyseos ossium pubis sectione caesarea promptior et tutior''. Having settled in Paris, he made his first successful

symphysiotomy Symphysiotomy is a surgical procedure in which the cartilage of the pubic symphysis is divided to widen the pelvis allowing childbirth when there is a mechanical problem (obstructed labour). It is also known as pelviotomy and synchondrotomy. It h ...

in 1777. The Faculty of Medicine of Paris ordered his thesis printed and a medal was struck in his honor.M. Dumont, ''La Longue et Laborieuse Naissance de la symphyséotomie ou de Séverin Pineau à Jean-René Sigault'', ''J Gynecol Obstet Biol Reprod'', 1989, ch. 18, p. 11-21.

References

1738 births French surgeons Physicians from Dijon Year of death missing {{France-med-bio-stub