Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-08
BOW-IEGS.
The Operation of OsteotOmy Performed
on Children at Bellevue Hospital.

Nejo York Tri5uHe.
In one of the surgical wards of Bellevue
Hospital reporter of the Tribune was
surprised TO see about dozen children
lying on their backs, with their feet boil
stored up and their legs incased IN splints
and plaster of Paris. The Oldest child
IN the lot was under wears Of ace. while
the youngest was about years old.
Every one Of these children has had
both legs broken" an attendant said.
When were they injured:" the report
er inquired.
Eight of them had their legs broken
to-day in this rOOm,' was the reply.
4 tall young man with fair hair and a
smiling face. Who was introduced as DR..
Fraser c. Fuller, a member Of the Bellevue
Hospital surgical staff, said: Il am re-
spOnsible for the treatment of these little
ones They all were either bOW-legged
or knock-kneed. Their limbs were so much
out of shape that they were hardly able
10 walk. If they had been permitted to
grow up without surgical attention
they would have become confirmed Grip
pies. They have been subjected to the
operation known as OsteOtOmy. In the
case Of a bOw-legged child an incisiOn is
made in the leg, between the knee and the
ankle. The skin and underlying tissues are
cut through with a knife as far as the
bone. Then an ordinary carpenters chisel
is used. The bone is cut about two
thirds of the way through, the chisel be-
ing held somewhat obliquely. AS soon as
the chisel Is Withdrawn the leg is grasped
firmly above and below the cut and the
bone is broken sufficiently to permit the
STRENGTHENING the limb. Banda9es and
splints are applied and set in plaster TO
keep the bone in the right position until
the fracture is healed. The treatment is
similar in the case of a knock kneed child,
except that the bone is broken above the
knee"
How long does it take a child to re-
cover from such OperatiOn:'
''The bone is set within four weeks after
the fracture, but the child is not per-
mitted To use its limbs much for several
days after the splints are removed. Walk
ing is allowed by slow degrees. When
the children are able to run about again,
however, their legs are as straight as
those of other boys and girls
Are not the children liable to lose
their lives while under treatment!v
''Ihere is comparatively little danger
in performing such an operation on a
child under years Of age, but the risk
increases as the child grows older. l have
been operating upon all the bOw-legged
children we could get here for a year.
None have died, and those who have been
in the hospital long enough to recover
have gone away with straight limbs"
DO the children suffer much under the
Operation?'
They are put under the influence Of
ether while their limbs are being straight
ened, and they suffer much less pain af-
terward than a grown person would un-
der like circumstances. Notice the way
/ string their heels up above the level Of
their heads. That is to prevent too much
circulation of blood in the legs. 1t pre-
vents Inflammation and lessons the pain"
The children, who lay on their backs,
with their feet in the air, appeared to be
rather comfortable. One OF two were
fretful. but the nurses said their uneasi-
ness was caused by forced inactiOn. Most
Of the little ones were the offsprings of
poor Italians. 1t was said that their legs
had become crooked because they had
been permitted To walk alone too early
and because their bones were soft
from lack of proper nourishment. DIR. Full
Ter exhibited photographs of several
children on whom he had performed
the operation Of OsteOtOmy within year.
Some of the pictures were taken before
the operation and others after the children
had recovered. \ comparison of the pic
lures revealed wonderful Improvement
In one set of pictures children were
represented with both legs bowed so
badly that their knees were foot apart
when they stood with their feet close
together. The other pictures showed the
same children with limbs straight and
well shaped. An increase in height, as
well as the removal of the defOrmity,
caused a pleasing transformation.