Manual of Surgery - Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Alexis Thomson;Alexander Miles
page 92 of 798 (11%)
page 92 of 798 (11%)
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_Continuous irrigation_ of the part by a slow, steady stream of lotion,
at the body temperature, such as eusol, or Dakin's solution, or boracic acid, or frequent washing with peroxide of hydrogen, has been found of value. A suitably arranged splint adds to the comfort of the patient; and the limb should be placed in the attitude which, in the event of stiffness resulting, will least interfere with its usefulness. The elbow, for example, should be flexed to a little less than a right angle; at the wrist, the hand should be dorsiflexed and the fingers flexed slightly towards the palm. Massage, passive movement, hot and cold douching, and other measures, may be necessary to get rid of the chronic Ådema, adhesions of tendons, and stiffness of joints which sometimes remain. In situations where a constricting band cannot be applied, for example, on the trunk or the neck, Klapp's suction bells may be used, small incisions being made to admit of the escape of pus. If these measures fail or are impracticable, it may be necessary to make one or more free incisions, and to insert drainage-tubes, portions of rubber dam, or iodoform worsted. The general treatment of toxæmia must be carried out, and in cases due to infection by streptococci, anti-streptococcic serum may be used. In a few cases, amputation well above the seat of disease, by removing the source of toxin production, offers the only means of saving the patient. |
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