Series of twelve bone and joint cases : illustrating recent improvement in the mechanical surgery of the lower limb / by Rushton Parker.

  • Parker, Rushton, 1847-1932.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Series of twelve bone and joint cases : illustrating recent improvement in the mechanical surgery of the lower limb / by Rushton Parker. 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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    [Medical Times and Gazette, July 14, 1883.] Case 5.—Chronic Synovitis of Knee—Aspiration at Intervals during Four Years, with Apparent Cures and Subsequent Remissions—Periarticular Exudations, Free Incisions, and Eventual Complete Siiccess, Richard P., a sailor, aged thirty-two, was admitted in November, 1878, under the care of Mr. Bickersteth, on account of an extensive hydrarthrosis of the left knee. The affection had existed for four years, had never been acute, and the patient had done his best to work, but at last had to give in. Aspiration was performed once, and as the joint filled again the patient was shortly after discharged. From December, 1879, to February, 1880, he was under the care of Mr. H. O. Thomas, who aspirated the joint three times, and applied plasters to it in the intervals. Effusion having disappeared and the use of the limb been restored, he was discharged cured, or apparently cured as it turned out, for three months later a fresh accumulation had taken place, and with it the consequent weakness of the knee. He entered the Infirmary in J une, 1880, under the care of Mr. Parker, who aspirated the joint on four consecutive days, ending July 1, the patient being in bed and having the limb previously fixed in a Thomas’s knee-splint of the ordinary long pattern used for bed purposes. On July 12, 1880, he was fitted with Thomas’s calliper walking knee-splint, and, as Mr. Parker was going from home, placed himself again under the care of Mr. Thomas, who continued the observation of the case. Nothing more was heard of him till September, 1882, when he stated that the knee had remained painless since last note until a few months previously, when a subcutaneous swelling was found on the upper outer corner of the affected knee. This had increased in size, had, he said, been incised by Mr. Thomas, and was now a sinus from which sweet serous fluid escaped in small quantity daily. Another indurated spot was felt on the inner lower aspect of the front of the joint. There was a constant pain complained of by the patient, and some tenderness, but his health was good, and the joint entirely free from distension. His calliper splint was kept on, and the man allowed to walk about the hospital, the sinus being covered with boracic lint, and regularly squeezed by him.
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