York Orthopaedic Dispensary Research Articles

END-RESULTS OF OPERATION FOR CLAW-FOOT

In the course of an investigation to determine end-results in conditions treated at the New York Ortho paedic Dispensary and Hospital, a study was made of patients on whom an operation for claw-foot was performed. The operation, which consists in the transference of the extensor digitorum longus and extensor hallucis longus tendons, was devised by Hibbs and was first described by him in 1919.¹All such patients who were operated on from 1916 to 1921, and who responded to an appeal to return for examination, were included. In all, there were 124 patients, on sixty-two of whom the procedure was carried out on both feet, making in all 186 operations. The work was that of thirteen different surgeons. The cases were seen at an interval of from two to six years after operation. The original condition, for which the procedure was carried out, was claw-foot deformity with hammer-toes, impaired

THE LUMBOSACRAL REGION

In a recent review of fracture dislocations of the spine treated at the New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital during the last twelve years, it was found that the majority of those injuries took place in the lumbosacral region. Interest was particularly aroused when the usual factors of occupation and type of injury were ruled out as sole provocative agents in this selective action, and the review seemed to indicate that many cases of obscure low back pain, of so-called sacroiliac strain and relaxation and of sciatica, were due to an inherent instability of the part. The present study was therefore undertaken to determine, if possible, the cause for the selection of this site of injury, and whether responsibility might not rest, in part at least, on the anatomic arrangement of the region. The study was made in the department of anatomy of the Columbia University College of Physicians and

FRACTURE-DISLOCATION OF THE SPINE

The cases reported herewith are from the service of the New York Orthopedic Dispensary and Hospital. Of these twenty-two cases of fracture-dislocation of the spine, one was in the cervical region, two were in the dorsal region, two in the dorsolumbar region, and seventeen in the lumbar region. Of the last named, eleven were of the fifth lumbar vertebra. There was a definite history of severe traumatism in the cervical case, in the two dorsal cases, in the two dorsolumbar cases, and in twelve of the lumbar cases. In five of the last, the injury had occurred in childhood. The symptoms in three cases, except those of short duration occurring immediately after the injury, did not appear until adult life when ossification of the vertebrae was complete. In one instance, Case 18, that of a motorcycle accident, the traumatism was severe; but the only conscious injury at the time was

THE USE OF PAPER AS A SURGICAL DRESSING AND BANDAGE

<h3>To the Editor:</h3> —During the past six months we have been experimenting at the New York Orthopaedic Dispensary and Hospital with the use of paper as a surgical dressing, and our experiments there warrant me in making this preliminary report of its use in the hope that other surgeons may try it, that further experience may prove it to be a substitute for gauze, muslin, etc., and that its use will effect a great economy in the expense of our surgical work. Among our experiments we have used sterilized newspapers in the dressing of clean wounds, and have found them perfectly satisfactory, causing no irritation and no disturbance whatever. We have also used various forms of paper, such as those used in making towels, toilet paper, table cloths, napkins, etc., in the dressing of clean wounds, and have had no trouble whatever. We have used sterilized newspapers also in the

The Present Status of Cancer Investigation — Surgery of the Nervous System — Country Branch of the New York Orthopedic Dispensary and Hospital — Dr. Draper's Retirement As Medical Examiner — Medical Notes

Editorial from The New England Journal of Medicine — The Present Status of Cancer Investigation — Surgery of the Nervous System — Country Branch of the New York Orthopedic Dispensary and Hospital — Dr. Draper's Retirement As Medical Examiner — Medical Notes