An old engraving of a man being treated for a broken leg (femur) in the 1800s. It is from a Victorian mechanical engineering book of the 1880s. The illustration shows the man lying on a bed. His leg is bandaged and a splint surrounds the upper leg. A weight and pulley system at the base of the bed (counter-extension apparatus) is attached to the foot, helping to extend the limb – allowing the bones fuse without shortening the leg. Wrapping the bone in plaster began in the 1700s. Limbs were often put in traction, pulling the bone back into place, before being set.
An old engraving of a man being treated for a broken leg (femur) in the 1800s. It is from a Victorian mechanical engineering book of the 1880s. The illustration shows the man lying on a bed. His leg is bandaged and a splint surrounds the upper leg. A weight and pulley system at the base of the bed (counter-extension apparatus) is attached to the foot, helping to extend the limb – allowing the bones fuse without shortening the leg. People knew from ancient times to immobilise broken bones with a splint or a brace. Later, bone setters were used to move the bone into place before immobilisation. Wrapping the bone in plaster began in the 1700s. Limbs were often put in traction, pulling the bone back into place, before being set. Techniques used for fracture treatment, such as the use of antiseptics and stabilising wounds massively improved at the start of the 20th century.
Size: 3780px × 1988px
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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