A treatise on orthopedic surgery . ches wearingan iron patten at least four inches in height under the soundfoot (Fig. 249). 3. When all symptoms of disease have subsided and whenatrophy of the muscles is marked the brace may be removed atnight. 364 OETHOPEDIC SUEGEEY. 4. The brace is finallj discarded, but the patten aud crutchesare still used in walking. The records of Mr. Thomas show the average time of confine-ment to the bed to be twenty-two weeks, and the average dura-tion of treatment twenty-one months. It is stated by Ridlon^ that in actual practice these principleswere not carried out
A treatise on orthopedic surgery . ches wearingan iron patten at least four inches in height under the soundfoot (Fig. 249). 3. When all symptoms of disease have subsided and whenatrophy of the muscles is marked the brace may be removed atnight. 364 OETHOPEDIC SUEGEEY. 4. The brace is finallj discarded, but the patten aud crutchesare still used in walking. The records of Mr. Thomas show the average time of confine-ment to the bed to be twenty-two weeks, and the average dura-tion of treatment twenty-one months. It is stated by Ridlon^ that in actual practice these principleswere not carried out, for nearly all the children treated underThomas direction at the time his observations were made werewalking about without the high patten and crutches, even beforethe deformity had been overcome and while muscular spasm andpain persisted. This was, however, probably an exigency of practice amongthe poor, and at all events it is in line with Thomas contentionthat pressure and concussions are less harmful than friction. Fig. A form of Thomas brace employed in the treatment of infants. The pelvicband assures better fixation. The screws at the lower extremity are arrangedto permit the addition of a foot-piece for traction. Modifications of the Thomas Brace,—Although not so stated inhis book, Thomas used at times a short brace extending only tothe lower part of the thigh, thus permitting motion at the was apparently designed as a convalescent splint, althoughits use was not restricted to that class of cases. In certain casesa strip of iron, the nurse, was screwed to the lower extremityof the long brace, prolonging it beyond the foot in order to pre-vent the patient from bearing weight upon the limb. The Thomas brace, so effective in preventing and overcomingflexion deformity, does not prevent lateral distortion. In fact,in twenty-four of the fifty-eight patients examined by Ridlon,^adduction was present; a larger proportion, it would appear,than would be found i
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Keywords: ., bookauthorwhitmanr, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1910
