The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-11-15
SPLINT FOR BOW LEG IN YOUNG
CHILDREN

! There is only one way to straighten
bow leg in a person over 5 years OF
age, and that is by operation on the
bent bone. No splint or appliance
can in the slightest degree correct
such deformity in an adult.
In babies just beginning to walk
considerable bowling of the legs may
be one manifestation of ricketts,,
which nutritional disease is due to
inadequate sunlight on naked skin
and inadequate Vitamin D In diet.
If such infants are given their place
in the sun, and fair diet and a fair
opportunity to use their legs, they
will generally straighten out all right
without any particular treatment.
1t is unwise to urge or try to teach
a baby to sit, stand or walk before
the baby naturally should do SO and
spontaneously tries to do so. A nor
NAL baby can sit up without support
at the age of months and should
not be made to sit up without sup
port to the back before that age. At
II or IL months the baby can stand
with little help. At IL to Is months
the baby begins to step out in an
cratic though perfectly sober man.
ner. If your baby sits. stands or
walks earlier, never mind. no harm
done, provided the baby does SO spon-
taneously. It is only prematurely
forced attempts at standing and
walking that may cause bowling OF
legs.
Foods which supply considerable
Vitamin D and should be given the
baby to prevent ricketts, and bony de-
formities are yolk of egg, fresh milk
from pasture fed cows, cream, butter.
Plain cod liver is the richest source
of Vitamin D and it is good rule to
give every baby a cod liver oil ration
daily from the age of one month to
the age of one year, from few drops
daily at first to teaspoonful or two
daily after the age of six months.
Massage and manipulation Of the
bowed legs is of no evident value In
the treatment of bow legs. EXER-
CISE outdoors in the sunlight or at
least in the daylight or skyshine Is
far more effective in Fastening the
Strengthening of the bones. For this
reason give the baby a pushmobile
as soon as he can sit in one, later a
velocipede, and when he is three OF
four years old bicycle, to encourage
him to get the exercise he needs fol
his legs, and his general metabolism
Some physicians believe a simple
Splint aids in the correction Of bow.
leg in a child. This is straight
splint of light wood padded to pro.
tect the inner malicious (ankl<
prominence and the inner edge o.
the head of the leg bone just below
| the knee. Attach the lower end Of
the splint by leather strap sewee
to the inner edge OF the sole of tn
shoe so as to hold the splint upol
the inner malicious. A small stral
should buckle around the upper par
of the leg just below the knee ant
hold the Splint in place there. Thre,
strips of elastic webbing long enough
to encircle leg and splint are attach
ed to the splint one above the othel
end fitted with buckles at the rea
edge of splint. These elastic strap:
are to be frightened around the lei
moderately, not tight enough to caus.
pain. They must produce mild pres.
sure over the greatest convexity d
the defornlity. The splints are to b.
worn only in the daytime. The splint'
should not interfere in the child
| orfiHyo ya1ov