A probationary surgical essay, on dislocations of the thigh bone : submitted,... to the examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh,... / by John Gordon ... October, 1808.

John Gordon

Date:: [1808]

Credit: A probationary surgical essay, on dislocations of the thigh bone : submitted,... to the examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh,... / by John Gordon ... October, 1808. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$\ *• % I .1 » > * * J 46 - 4 4 % ■ Kirkland. Although, however, it was successful in three cases which came under his care, we think it d 7 •r £ •, susceptible of improvement in several particulars. In the first place, by making the extension as he has directed, with the leg forming a right angle with the thigh, we keep the Rectus muscle extended ; nor can we so easily use the whole limb as a lever, to incline the head of the bone outwards : Secondly, by apply¬ ing a lac above the knee, we stimulate muscles to spasmodic contraction much more readily in this species of luxation than in any other: Thirdly, when the patient is seated upright, the assistant operates to great disadvantage in pulling the head of the bone outwards : And, lastly, we cannot perceive how rota¬ tion of the leg inwards or towards the sound side, is calculated to bring: the head of the bone directly to- wards the acetabulum. None of these objections appear to be applicable to the method which we have recommended. 4 - * There is reason to suspect, that surgical writers have been induced to describe this dislocation as an extremely common accident, less from the positive frequency of its occurrence, than from studying in the skeleton the form of the inner part of the aceta¬ bulum. It seems generally acknowledged to be much more frequent than the second or third species, yet there may be room to doubt whether it is even so common as the luxation upwards and backwards. Finis. %$