Annals of Anatomy and Surgery (Volume 1)

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.1879 Excerpt: ... BROOKLYN ANATOMICAL AND SURGICAL CLUB. Stated Meeting, April zist, 1879. SUBCUTANEOUS SECTION OF THE INTERNAL CONDYLE OF THE FEMUR FOR THE RELIEF OF GENU-VALGUM, AFTER THE METHOD OF OGSTON, WITH A REPORT OF TWO CASES. BY GEO. R. FOWLER, M. D. Congenital deformities of the knee-joint are very rare. The patella is occasionally found to be dislocated either to the inner or outer side of the leg at birth, but other than this, no departure from the normal shape of the limb at the knee-joint seems to occur congenitally. Genu-valgum is one of the most common deformities met with. It is seldom acquired during middle life or old age, but generally occurs during the period extending from infancy to adolescence., The stages of development of this deformity are believed to be as follows: ist. Disproportionately powerful contraction of the biceps flexor cruris muscle. 2d. Relaxation of the internal lateral and posterior crucial ligaments. 3d. An arrest of growth of the external and increased growth of the internal condyle of the femur. 4th. Oblique outward rotation of the tibia. When the deformity occurs during infancy, it is generally during the period of most difficult dentition, after the child is a year old, and when abnormal states of general nutrition more commonly obtain. The cases which occur later in life are met with most frequently in the persons of those who are apprenticed at an early age to some trade requiring constant standing. Of these, the greater number will be found among bakers and cabinet-makers; and indeed, so common is this deformity in Germany among the first-named, that it is there known as baker's leg. Among bakers it occurs almost invariably in those whose duty it is to scale or weigh the dough after it is rolled out in loaves for baki...