The after-treatment of excisions demands, first of all, physiological rest of the part involved, especially if, as at the knee, sutures or other expedients for maintaining apposition have been inserted. When motion is sought there will soon come a time when passive motion can be begun. This will vary with the size of the joint and the magnitude of the procedure. Actual rest should be maintained until firm wound healing has been secured. Passive motion is then begun, to be practised daily, the sensation of the patient being the guide as to the range of the movement and extent of manipulation. Thus, after exsection of an elbow with prompt union of the wound passive motion should be begun in about two weeks, but it should not be begun for a month if the joint has been thoroughly disorganized and the cavity is still discharging. Motion should be begun as early as is considered feasible in order to guard against a false joint.
The remote consequences of joint excisions are usually very satisfactory. The best results are obtained in the young, i. e., those whose tissues are still undergoing natural changes and whose bones are growing. In the course of time, by condensation of surrounding tissues, a new joint capsule is formed, its interior smoothed off, apparently covered with endothelium and filled with a sufficient amount of fluid, similar to that of normal joints, to serve the purpose; in this way a new joint becomes gradually substituted for the old, which serves the original purpose, in a surprising and gratifying way. Even in those of advanced years a satisfactory result is often obtained. It is often necessary to afford some support, by which too great a range of motion may be avoided; thus at the elbow the result at first is what may be called a “flail-joint,” which permits much undesirable lateral movement. This can be avoided by having light leather corsets fitted to the forearm and arm, connected by two lateral hinged braces. This being constantly worn, and no motion permitted which is not an imitation of the normal, the parts in time adapt themselves to the purpose, so that all apparatus can after a while be removed.
Excisions, like amputations, may be practised and the general methods learned on the cadaver, but their actual performance in the presence of extensive disease will be found to be a different procedure from that learned upon the dead body. For reasonably representative cases typical operations can be devised, with explicit directions. It is not advisable to try to do such work through too short incisions. A long incision heals as kindly as one shorter and affords more room for operative work. The incision should be so planned and executed as to afford the maximum of exposure with the minimum of damage to important structures. The region of the great vessels is avoided in all the classical operations, while nerve trunks, if exposed, are retracted and kept out of harm’s way. After the knife has once laid open the joint it is used but little except for the division of resisting structures, e. g., ligaments. The greater part of the work is then done with elevators, or periostomes with reasonably sharp edges and sufficiently broad surface, so that the periosteum can be divided with the latter and separated with the former to the necessary extent. Obviously epiphyseal junctions should be spared whenever possible, especially in the young. To remove an entire epiphysis is to materially impair the later growth of the limb. In some of the most serious cases it will be found already loosened and lying as a sequestrum in the joint cavity. In this case it may be easily lifted out of place. Tendons should never be divided unless absolutely necessary. Incisions in their neighborhood should be so planned as to be parallel with their direction and permit their displacement without division. The sharp spoon should be employed for curetting the interior of a joint capsule or cleaning out a bone focus (erasion). A capsule involved in tuberculous disease should be completely extirpated. Diseased bone ends should be sufficiently exposed to permit of the use of an ordinary saw or a chain or wire saw.[34] Considerable force will often be necessary in making bone ends accessible for this purpose. The chisel is rarely used except in cases of bony ankylosis, where it is not possible to force bone ends through the opening in order to attack them with the saw. As remarked above, clean cases may be closed without drainage. Visible vessels should be secured, and, while a certain amount of oozing may be expected, if the part be enclosed in suitable compressive dressings and elevated, it need not cause alarm. The gentle application of an elastic bandage for three or four hours may afford additional security. It should not, however, be allowed long to remain. The terminal portion of the limb will always afford an indication as to the condition of the circulation. Should it become cyanotic or cold the dressing should be renewed and the wound examined promptly.
[34] Wyeth’s “exsector” is an admirable substitute, especially at the shoulder and hip.
Special Incisions.
The Shoulder.
—A longitudinal incision suffices for most cases ([Fig. 214]). This may be made posteriorly between the fibers of the deltoid or anteriorly and externally over the bicipital groove. It is better to separate the deltoid fibers than to divide them, although they may be divided. Should the straight incision afford insufficient room another incision at right angles will afford ample access. The capsule, having been exposed, is opened, the wound widely separated with retractors, the arm rotated through a wide arc, while with a stout knife the capsular ligament and the various muscular attachments around the neck of the bone are divided. The greater and lesser tuberosities, with their muscles undivided, should be retained, when circumstances permit. The head of the bone, being freed, is dislocated and forced out through the wound, where it may be seized with large forceps and removed with a saw. The higher the bone is divided the better. Every other consideration, however, should be sacrificed to removal of all foci of disease. The capsule may then be extirpated and the glenoid cavity thoroughly cleaned out with a sharp spoon. Should the case be one of serious infection it is advisable to make a posterior opening, even through the deltoid, for purposes of thorough drainage. The greater part of the first incision is to be closed with sutures, the arm dressed in a comfortable position, with the elbow at a right angle, and the patient allowed to be up and around as soon as he feels in the mood for it.
Fig. 214
Excision of the shoulder: A, regular incision; B, supplementary. (Ollier.)