On coxalgia, or hip disease / by Alden March.

  • March, Alden, 1795-1869.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On coxalgia, or hip disease / by Alden March. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    33/34
    a considerable amount of pressure on the outer face of the tro- chanter-major, the tendency of which would be to produce absorption of the head of the bone occupied by the attachment of the ligament- um teres, and of the deep part of the acetabulum, so that the dimi- nished head and neck of the bone might be thrust through into the cavity of the pelvis, which I have actually seen. The structure of the splint exhibited to the members of the Asso- ciation is designed to obviate all pressure on the trochanter-major. The accompanying drawing, made by Mr. Daniels, of New York, will convey a better idea of its design that can be explained in words only. Its length, breadth, &c, must be adapted to the age and size of the patient. The apparatus is simple, and consists, as will be observed, of a long leg and foot-piece, and a perineal belt or strap. In having the upper portion of the splint broad, and moulded to the trunk, and the extre- mities of the perineal strap attached to the anterior and posterior angles of the same, the extending and counter-extending force can be made to act very much in a line with the axis of the limb; a circum- stance of considerable importance in the treatment of fracture of the neck of the femur. The long splint may be made of thin wood, and moulded to the shape of the patient's limb. The foot-piece projects to an equal dis- tance on each side, so that the splint may answer for either side. The extension may be made by straps attached to the ankle and lower portion of the leg, and fixed to the foot-piece. It will be observed that I have hardly alluded to the early diag- nostic symptoms of morbus coxarius, nor to the general plan of treatment. These points I propose to take up' hereafter.