Fig. 112.—The thigh steels, curved in above the condyles, hold the limb on very securely.[10]
Fig. 113.—Details of the joint at the knee.
[10] In this illustration the joints are placed too low. They should be opposite the centre of rotation of the knee joint, i.e. a transverse line passing through the femoral condyles. (Ed.)
(b) The braces are a very useful addition which French orthopædists should employ systematically. They increase the stability of the limb and allow the thigh piece to be laced less tightly, so that contraction of the thigh muscles is facilitated.
Figs. 114 and 115.
Support may be given by a strap from a waist belt as shown in [figure 117], but proper braces are better. These braces pass over the shoulder of the sound side and are attached either to the thigh corset or to the leg piece of the artificial limb. Attachment to the thigh corset is made by a single strap either in front and behind ([Fig. 114]) or on either side of the front lacing, the ends of the strap crossing in front of the groin ([Fig. 115]). It is a simple matter to add to the brace an extending strap, such as we have described for the artificial limb for amputation through the thigh ([page 44]). It is only necessary to terminate the brace in a strap from which two branches pass down in an inverted V and are fixed to the sides of the front of the leg piece ([Figs. 116 and 117]). This is unnecessary if the stump is long, for its leverage will then be good. It is, however, very useful for short stumps which give little power to the action of the quadriceps. In the case of patients with a long stump an attempt has been made to abolish the thigh piece and suspend the limb exclusively by braces. This method, we believe, is inadequate even if it is completed by a transverse band above the knee ([Figs. 118 and 119]).
Figs. 116 and 117.
