The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-07-28

The work of the orthopedic sur
geon here, according to Comdr.
Henry Howard Kessler CMC), US
Mr., of Newark, N. j., head of this
department, is motivated by two
considerations: (a) The military
necessity of keeping as many men
as as many guns as many days as
possible and, (b) The social and
vocational rehabilitation OF the in
jured.
'"The orthopedic surgeon in a war
zone is thus faced" in the words
of Commander KesSler, "by a chal-
lenge to his sound judgment, tech
nical skill and social imagination"
Commander Kessler, for more than
20 years connected with the New
Jersey Rehabilitation Commission,
is one of the country's foremost
orthopedic surgeons. His previous
practice, prior to his induction into
active service in the U. S. Naval
Reserve in 1941, was rehabilitation
and reconstruction surgery.
His colleagues in orthopedic sur
gerry on the staff of U. S. Naval
Hospital No. 2, located somewhere
in the South Pacific war zone," in
clude 1t. Comdr. Charles B. Beymer
(MC). USNR, of Twin Falls, Ida;
1t. Marvin c. Becker (MC), USNR,
of New York City, and 1t. Marley
B. Shaw (MC), USNR, of Wahpe-
ton, N. D.
Use 'Trueta Method
In the last war, according to DR..
Kessler. compound fractures caused
by gunshot wounds produced a high
degree of mortality and permanent
Gripping. A large number required
amputation and a larger percentage
developed chronic bone infection
requiring repeated operations, pro-
longed disqualification and perma-
nent invalidity.
In the management of the COM
pound fractures received at U. S.
Naval Hospital No. 2, however, en-
ployment with slight notifications
of the classic "Trueta method" eX-
tensively used in the Spanish Civil
War and in the European theater,
has been singularly successful, DR..
Kessler reports.
Editors Note: The so-called
Trueta method of treating COM
pound fractures, or wound
fractures, consists basically of
cleansing the wound and inserting
sulfa drugs and packing, followed
by the application of a plaster of
paris cast to place the injured part
at rest).
In less than IL per cent Of the
gunshot wounds of all types re-
ceived was amputation, in one form
or another, required, the majority
for irreparable injury to the main
blood vessels, rapidly spreading gas
gangrene or extensive loss or de-
struction of tissue.
In one case, DR.. KeSsler recalls
because of the critical condition of
the patient, amputation of the leg
was performed in bed under refrig-
Grafton anesthesia. A tourniquet
was applied to the leg, ice packed
around the leg from the toes up
to the tourniquet and the leg sew
cred without any supplementary
anesthetic.
Plasma Saves Lives
Chest wounds have represented
approximately 1873 per cent of the
total admitted war casualties at
this naval hospital. Wounds of the
perforating type Gin which the con-
tinuity of the chest wall has been
disrupted represented 5.4 per cent
of the total admitted war casual
ties, and 288 per cent of all chest
wounds.
Mortality rate in this (perforat-
ing) category of chest wound ap-
proximately but rs per cent.
Treatment of the pleural and
pulmonary complications of the per-
forating chest wounds has been
conservation throughout. All nee
essary supportive measures were
used, such as continuance of sulfa
drugs, vitamins, blood transfusions
and plasma where indicated.
These latter two measures have
been invaluable in saving lives and
in reducing the time required for
convalescence," according to Comdr
Alphonse Mcmahon (MC), USNR, OF
st. Louis, Mo-, and Comdr. Harry
R. Huston (MC), USNR, of Dayton,
o. Commanders Mcmahon and Hus-
ton have been particularly active
in the direction of the medical and
surgical, respectively, treatment of
this particular type of war injury.
Both were prominent in their pro-
fessional fields of endeavor while
engaged in civilian practice.
Commander Mcmahon, organizer
of the St. Louis medical specialist
unit of the naval reserve, was as
signed as internist of the unit. He
was ordered to active duty overseas
early in 1912. Commander Huston
has the following hospital appoint
ments awaiting him, when he re-
ports for duty; senior surgeon and
chief of staff, Miami Valley Hospi-
tai, Dayton, O.; attending surgeon,
U. S. Veterans Administration Fa-
cilities, also in Dayton, and post
graduate work in surgery at the
Mayo, Grille and Labey clinics.
a -