Injuries and diseases of the knee-joint considered from the clinical aspect / by Sir William Bennett ; with thirty-four illustrations.

  • Bennett, William Henry, Sir, 1852-1921.
Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Injuries and diseases of the knee-joint considered from the clinical aspect / by Sir William Bennett ; with thirty-four illustrations. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    of attached bodies arising from hypertrophy of the synovial fringes or folds ; and (3) looseness of the joint generally, unless proper attention be paid to the condition of the muscles of the thigh in the early stage of the case. Acute traumatic synovitis.—Distension of the knee- joint from acute inflammatory effusion is one of the most painful of affections, the incidence of the pain, which increases with the degree of distension, being mainly across the joint above and about the patella. This is increased by flexion beyond a point midway beyond extension and semi-flexion, and if reflex con- traction of the flexors of the thigh is continuous, it is somewhat relieved by gentle extension of the leg upon the thigh. In the early stage the position in which the capacity of the joint is greatest is assumed, but very soon there is a tendency, in consequence of the contraction of the flexor muscles, to a gradual bending to a right angle. This renders a comfort- able retaining splint desirable, to which the limb is lightly fixed in the position which is most comfortable to the patient. The relief of pain is usually the primary indication, and, apart from the use of nar- cotics or other drugs, this can only be done by diminishing the tension in the joint capsule. Very hot applications constantly changed are efficacious in the majority of cases, but in some nothing but the removal of fluid preferably by aspiration suffices, followed by gentle bandage pressure. The imme-