On the treatment of spinal curvatures by extension and jacket : with remarks on some affections of the hip, knee, and ankle-joints / by H. Macnaughton Jones.

  • Macnaughton-Jones, H.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the treatment of spinal curvatures by extension and jacket : with remarks on some affections of the hip, knee, and ankle-joints / by H. Macnaughton Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

    38/166 (page 22)
    The Cutting of the Jacket.—It is my belief that in those cases in which we elect to apply the plaster jacket, it should not be cut for some time—dependent upon the nature of the case. I am clearly of opinion that we have, once the support is divided, all the benefits of the plaster jacket in the poroplastic felt one, and many advantages over the former in comfort, lightness, ease of apphcation, and durability. In hospital cases, for various forms of curvature, we may not be able to obtain the felt, and then we must resort to the plaster jacket. But in all spinal cases where we require an immovable apparatus, the plaster has, in my mind, the advantage. I have seen several cases of distinct disimprovement and falling back, with return of old symptoms of pain and weak- ness, when the plaster jacket has been cut, or where it has been replaced for the poroplastic jacket. There- fore, I think the most important point to decide, in the first instance, is the necessity for immobility and the constant use of the jacket—the wearing of it by night as well as by day. If I determine to cut the jacket immediately after application, then I select a felt appliance from the first. If I feel it to be a case in which constant use, greater support, and more immobility are required, I prefer the plaster. I do not here speak of the relative advantages of the plaster and poroplastic supports in Pott's curvatm-e and lateral respectively. I shall refer to that disputed point again. I speak now merely of cutting the jacket. I advise, from experience, that once we ap]3ly the properly fitting plaster support, to leave it uncut as long as we can with comfort to the patient, and while we find benefit is derived from its use. If it has to be cut for reasons of cleanliness, pressm-e, or weai-, then re-apply it, and let the patient have the benefit of the complete jacket until the cure is perfect, or all the good