Transactions of the Meeting of the American Surgical Association Volume 22 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1904 Excerpt: ... ANKYLOSIS. ARTHROPLASTY--CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL. The subject of ankylosis and its treatment presents many problems for consideration. In order to immediately emphasize the salient points of the subject, we will ask some questions: What are joints? What is the embryology of joint formation? What is the pathological histology of acquired arthroses or false joints? What is the pathology of hygromata (acquired endothelial-lined sacs)? Can they be produced artificially? What is ankylosis? What are the pathological and anatomical changes included in the term? What tissues are involved? From a practical standpoint, into what classes may it be divided? When ankylosis has formed, what are the limitations of surgery for its relief? Can we re-establish a movable, functionating joint with synovial lining? Can we restore motion and to what degree? In what class of cases can the best results be secured? Can we for the future promise better than the flexible, fibrous unions that we have secured in the past? These were the questions that most forcibly presented themselves when I began the investigation of this subject in July, 1901. Subsequent experience has shown that the majority of these have been answered favorably from a clinical standpoint. Experimental work on joints in dogs is unsatisfactory on account of the difficulty in controlling infection and motion. A preliminary report of this work with demonstration of one of the cases was made to the Chicago Surgical Society at Mercy Hospital, October, 1902. ANATOMY AND EMBRYOLOGY. The classification of joints from a practical standpoint is as follows: The synarthrosis, the amphiarthrosis, and the diarthrosis. The subdivisions of the latter, the ginglymus (elbow, ankle, wrist, etc.), the ginglymo-arthrodial (knee, tem...