Part 37
Luxations and subluxations at the knee are much milder accidents than
subluxations and luxations at the elbow. For the knee-joint, in proportion
to its size, is more compact than that of the arm, and has a more
even conformation, and is
[p. 204]rounded, while the joint of the arm is large,
and has many cavities. And in addition, the bones of the leg are nearly
of the same length, for the external one overtops the other to so
small an extent as hardly to deserve being mentioned, and therefore
affords no great resistance, although the external nerve (
ligament?）
at the ham arises from it; but the bones of the fore-arm are unequal,
and the shorter is considerably thicker than the other, and the more
slender (
ulna?) protrudes, and passes up above the joint, and to it
(the
olecranon?) are attached the nerves (
ligaments?) which go downward
to the junction of the bones; and the slender bone (
ulna?) has more
to do with the insertion of the ligaments in the arm than the thick
bone (
radius?). The configuration then of the articulations, and of
the bones of the elbow, is such as I have described. Owing to their
configuration, the bones at the knee are indeed frequently dislocated,
but they are easily reduced, for no great inflammation follows, nor
any constriction of the joint. They are displaced for the most part
to the inside, sometimes to the outside, and occasionally into the
ham. The reduction in all these cases is not difficult, but in the
dislocations inward and outward, the patient should be placed on a
low seat, and the thigh should be elevated, but not much. Moderate
extension for the most part sufficeth, extension being made at the
leg, and counter-extension at the thigh.
