Object numberGC.6063
DescriptionBONE, femur. Fracture. Femur, left, showing union at a false joint after operation.
A van man aged 45, had his left thigh crushed with the shaft of his van and was brought to hospital, a distance of 10 miles, eight hours later. There was much swelling and considerable deformity and the foot was everted. On the following morning under general anesthetic the bones were adjusted and extension and stunts applied. He was much troubled with bronchial irritation with coughing which necessitated frequent changes of position. Three months later union had not taken place. The ununited fracture was then exposed and the proximal fragment found to be lying in front of the distal and it was impossible to obtain accurate apposition until the projecting end of the proximal fragment had been sawn off. Apposition was then obtained and the bones fixed in position by one long screw nail Two months later the fracture was still ununited. Plaster bandages were applied and another two months allowed to elapse but still union had not occurred. Then, eight months after the accident, the fracture was again exposed, the fibrous tissue uniting the bones removed, and the ends of the bone sawn off with a circular saw so that easy reduction with accurate apposition could be obtained and the bones held in position by the fixation apparatus still seen in position. A small septic sinus resulted but gradually improved and four months later he was up and going about on crutches. A month later, during an attack of bronchitis, he died.
The macerated bone shows that the two fragments have not remained in perfect alignment and that the fixation apparatus has been displaced forwards from the centre of the bone Much callus has formed and the condition of the adjacent parts indicates a chronic and not very extensive septic process.
Production date 1880 - 1920
Object nameBONE, femur
Object categoryAnatomical, specimen
Dimensions
- Height: 37 cm
Diameter: 11.5 cm