The treatment of fractures . on theground. After a month has expired the first fixationsplint should be removed, the leg and knee should bewashed and massaged, and a light splint of felt orleather be placed along the posterior asj)ect of theleg, knee, and lower thigh, and bandaged on by aflannel or stockinet bandage. Better than this, flow-er er, would be a light apparatus consisting of thin,narrow, lateral steel plates riveted so as to form ajoint opposite the knee-joint and ankle-joint, andwith slots to prevent motion if desired, these platesto be attached to the sole of the hoe below and to
The treatment of fractures . on theground. After a month has expired the first fixationsplint should be removed, the leg and knee should bewashed and massaged, and a light splint of felt orleather be placed along the posterior asj)ect of theleg, knee, and lower thigh, and bandaged on by aflannel or stockinet bandage. Better than this, flow-er er, would be a light apparatus consisting of thin,narrow, lateral steel plates riveted so as to form ajoint opposite the knee-joint and ankle-joint, andwith slots to prevent motion if desired, these platesto be attached to the sole of the hoe below and to aband which should encircle the mid-thigh above.(See Figure 39.) With such an apparatus thepatient is relieved of the feeling of weakness andhelplessness in the injured extremity, and the slot orregulating screw arrangement permits of as much oras little flexion as may be desired, and only whendesired. Persistent voluntary and passive movementshould be employed daily from six weeks after the 154 The Treatment of fracture, if the union is good, un-til the functions of the extremityare fully restored. Light gymnas-tic apparatus to strengthen andrecuperate the flexors may benecessary in cases which have re-quired fixation apparatus for anextraordinary length of is especially useful in re-gaining the motions and dispellingswellings about the joint. Thefortitude of the patient must inmany instances be stimulaed byconvincing him of the absolutenecessity for persistent movements,for the exercise of the joint is atfirst exceedingly painful. Fig. 39. Long leg brace which may be used for supporting theextremity when a patient begins to be again active after fracture ofthe patella. FRACTURES OF THE BONES OF THE LEG. Tn a hospital service which has included a largenumber of fractures, I find in reviewing the cases forthe last few years, that fractures of the bones of theleg have been more numerous than fractures of anyother bones. Of 232 fractures of the bones of
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectfractures, bookyear19
