C H A P. XIII.
Of the Luxation of the Thigh.
The Luxation which most commonly happens in this Part, is the Internal; so that a Protuberance appears on the Hole of the Os Pubis; the indispos'd Leg is longer than the other, and the Knee and Foot turn outward; neither can the Thigh be any longer bended, nor drawn near the other.
If the Luxation be External, the Leg becomes shorter than the other, the Knee and Foot turning inward, and the Heel to the outside.
When the Luxation is on the fore-part, a Tumour ariseth in the Groin, so that the Patient cannot draw this Thigh toward the other, nor bend the Leg; his Body resting only upon the Heel.
If the Luxation be Posterior, a Tumour is felt in the Buttocks with great Pain, and the Legg is shorter than it ought to be: There also appears a sinking in the Groin, the Leg is lifted off from the Ground, and the hurt Person is apt to fall backward.
To reduce the Internal Luxation, the Patient is to be laid with his Back upon a Table, to which is fixt a thick Wooden Pin, about a Foot long, which is to be set between his Thighs, to detain his Body when his Legs are drawn down; then a Strap is to be pass'd above the joynt of the Thigh, to draw the Ischion upward; and the Thigh is to be drawn down with another Strap fasten'd above the Knee: In the mean while the Surgeon thrusts the Thigh upward, to cause it to re-enter its Cavity, the Straps being somewhat loosen'd in the time of the Reduction to facilitate the Operation.
To reduce the External Luxation, the Patient is to be laid upon his Belly; and the drawing to be perform'd after the same manner as we have even now shewn, whilst the Thigh is thrust from the outside inward, to cause the bone to re-enter its Cavity.