On asymmetry of the lower limbs as a cause of lateral spinal curvature : with a description of a new method for readily and accurately determining any variation in the lengths of the lower extremities / by Thomas G. Morton.

  • Morton, Thomas G. (Thomas George), 1835-1903.
Date:
[1886]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On asymmetry of the lower limbs as a cause of lateral spinal curvature : with a description of a new method for readily and accurately determining any variation in the lengths of the lower extremities / by Thomas G. Morton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    long and four inches in width, and corresponding in thickness to the blocks; one of these boards is placed on the floor, and the height is readily increased to any extent by placing boards upon one another until the de- sired elevation is obtained ; the patient is then directed to place the foot of the short limb upon the board or boards, and is then directed to walk forward, and the amount of shortening is practically determined when all irregularity in his walk is overcome; for greater ac- curacy the limb may then be blocked up as first* de- scribed, and the two measurements can be compared, and the least overcorrection can generally be detected by the patient: after being made symmetrical, he quickly and readily notices any asymmetry. - This series of boards is especially useful and indicated when it is necessary to determine the proper elevation of heel required to give the greatest comfort to a patient in walking, who has recovered from hip or other limb disease with shortening or angular anchylosis, for it is only after such a practical test that a proper shoe can be constructed. If any one with ordinarily symmetrical limbs will make the experiment of placing a block of one-fourth or one-half of an inch under one foot an asymmetrical con- dition will at once be experienced, and when this varia- tion is corrected by blocking the opposite side, the sub- ject experimented upon will at once be able to determine when the limbs are made equal; an under- or an over- correction will be quickly appreciated. The following cases will be quite suflBcient for illus- tration of the subject: