Notes on infantile paralysis / by Robert Jones and John Ridlon.

  • Jones, Robert, 1857-1933.
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on infantile paralysis / by Robert Jones and John Ridlon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    HONORARY SURGEON ROYAL SOUTHERN HOSPITAI,, LIVERPOOL ; CORRESPONDING MEMBER AMERICAN ORTHOPtEDIC ASSOCIATION ; CONSULTING SURGEON MAN- CHESTER SHIP CANAL. AND John Ridlon, M.A., M.D., Chicago, PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN ORTHOPIEDIC ASSOCIATION ; LECTURER ON ORTHOPCEDIC SURGERY IN THE NORTH-WESTERN UNIVERSITY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT, CHICAGO MEDICAL COLLEGE ; LATE ASSISTANT SURGEON TO THE VANDERBILT CLINIC I CONSULTING ORTHOPCEDIC SURGEON TO THE CHURCH HOSPITAL, NFW YORK. 9. Notes on Infantile Paralysis. In dealing with this subject we limit the definition of infantile paralysis to those disabilities resulting from acute anterior polio-myelitis, and only exceptionally refer to other cases with the object of emphasising the differen- tial diagnosis. We, however, mention one form of paralysis which may confront any practitioner, the knowledge of the significance and treatment of which is of considerable advantage. The child is born with an affection of the upper limb, which is observed in a fully extended position ; the arm rotated inwards and the hands flexed, generally containing the thumb within its grasp. If such an arm be Fig. I.—Showing the e.xtended arm and flexed hand. rotated outwards by the surgeon, on release it immediately and almost forcibly resumes its abnormal posture. This condition is by no means uncommon, and is an obstetric form of paralysis due always to injury during birth; it is but rarely accompanied by paralysis of the leg (fig. i). Untreated, it is liable on occasions to last for many months, and we have seen cases in which we have been consulted for the thumb and hand flexion even as late as at two years of age. The treatment is simple and very effec- tive, and consists in the reversal of the erratic posture.