Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-04-13
A Surgical Triumph.

| MARY H. dBou tNShtl -hNS, hse9 w.
mitted to the Roosevelt Hospital sever
al months ago suffering with tubercu
lous disease OF the knee joints, writes
a New York correspondent OF the st
Louis Globe-D Democrat The artioula
tion of the knee had become so exten
sively disorganized that she had beer
obliged to wear bandage on the leg
made OF plaster of paris spread on
gauze to enable her to use the leg, and
at length the time had come when this
ceased to do any good, and the disease
had made such progress that her life
was considered in peril. A consulta'
tion of physicians resulted in the con-
clusion that the limb would have to be
sacrificed to the disease. They advised
its removal in the classical manner at
the thigh joint. The surgeon in charge
of Roosevelt Hospital thought other
wise. He determined TO demonstrate
to the profession that her case could be
treated successfully IN less radical
manner by removing the knee-joint
and joining the bones OF the leg and
thigh immoyably together.
The operation was recently perform
ed in the larger amphitheater, before a
crowd of students from the College Of
Physicians and Surgeons, which is just
across the street from the hospital. A
large number Of well-known surgeons
and medicos were present also. and one
could easily Judge from their looks that
they doubted the issue OF the opera
ton.
The patient was etherized and placed
on the operating table. The leg was
then exposed and its condition COM
mented on by DIR. McBurncy. He then
took a keen-edged scalpel. made an in
cision about the greatly enlarged joint
and carried it directly down to the
bone, taking care not TO injure the yes
sells contained in the popliteal space,
which is directly behind the joint on
the posterior aspect OF the leg.
He now opened the joint freely,
and carefully dissected away all
vestiges Of the diseased tissues
and membranes; then taking saw, not
unlike such as butchers use, he remoy-
ed a slice OF bone first from the hbia or
leg bone. With this he took good caro-
10 remove the pateiia, or knee-pan
bone. This done, he sawed a similar
slice OF bone from the lower extremity
Of the femHr, which Is the great bone
81 the thigh. He examined the cut
surfaces, and, finding them healthy,
applied hot sponges to control the
This part Of the operation did not
AXE long, and when the sponges were
removed the wounded parts were
thoroughly washed out with an anti
'eptic solution OF mercurious bichloride.
1000. Now came the more important
part OF the operation, the fitting To-
yether and securing Of tho fragments.
The bones We're placed In juxtapogi.ion
md two long shining nails, or rather
spikes, OF silver were driven into
hem to keep them in place, one on
zach side, each being driven in
lantingly, thus immoyably fixing the
eg bone TO the thigh bone. The
Wounds Of the soft parts were next
'losed and drainage tubes put in DO
ition to carry of any discharge
which mightform in the process Of heal.
ng.
This operation, though rather a rare
me, has been performed a number OF
lines in this city. but never before ON
case where success seemed so hone
ess. However, she surprised every
ne with the exception OF the doctor by |
lakiSg rapid and excellent recovery
a eighteen days, mt the end OF which |
ime the wounds had healed and the |
ones were uniting firmly. At the
resent time union is perfect between
hem, and, although the leg Is perfect
stiff at the knee joint, she is much
etter of with It so than she would be
it'll cork leg. had she lived through
hip joint operation. Her case NAV
Q set down among the recent tri-
mphs of surgery.