Park mentions an instance of rupture of the sciatic nerve caused
by a patient giving a violent lurch during an operation at the
hip-joint.
The instances occasionally observed of recovery of an injured leg
after extensive severance and loss of substance are most
marvelous. Morton mentions a boy of sixteen, who was struck by
one of the blades of a reaping machine, and had his left leg cut
through about 1 1/4 inches above the ankle-joint. The foot was
hanging by the portion of skin corresponding to the posterior
quarter of the circumference of the leg, together with the
posterior tibial vessels and nerves. These were the only
structures escaping division, although the ankle-joint itself was
intact. There was comparatively little hemorrhage and no shock; a
ligature was applied to the vessels, the edges of the wound were
drawn together by wire sutures, and the cut surfaces of the tibia
were placed in as good apposition as possible, although the lower
fragment projected slightly in front of the upper. The wound was
dressed and healing progressed favorably; in three months the
wound had filled up to such an extent that the man was allowed to
go on crutches. The patient was discharged in five months, able
to walk very well, but owing to the loss of the function of the
extensor tendons the toes dragged.
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