Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- FOREWORD TO THE GOLDEN JUBILEE EDITION
- FOREWORD
- PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
- PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
- CHAPTER I CONSERVATIVE VERSUS OPERATIVE METHODS
- CHAPTER II THE MECHANICS OF CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
- CHAPTER III JOINT MOVEMENT IN CONSERVATIVE METHODS
- CHAPTER IV THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURE SWITH OUT PLASTER OF PARIS
- CHAPTER V PLASTER TECHNIQUE
- CHAPTER VI FRACTURES OF THE SHAFT OF THE HUMERUS
- CHAPTER VII SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURES OF THE HUMERUS IN CHILDREN
- CHAPTER VIII FRACTURES OF THE RADIUS AND ULNA
- CHAPTER IX THE COLLES' FRACTURE
- CHAPTER X THE BENNETT'S FRACTURE
- CHAPTER XI FINGER FRACTURES
- CHAPTER XII PERTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES OF THE NECK OF THE FEMUR
- CHAPTER XIII FRACTURES OF THE SHAFT OF THE FEMUR
- CHAPTER XIV FRACTURES OF THE FEMORAL AND TIBIAL CONDYLES
- CHAPTER XV FRACTURES OF THE SHAFT OF THE TIBIA
- CHAPTER XVI THE POTT'S FRACTURE
- INDEX
- THE JOHN CHARNLEY TRUST
CHAPTER III - JOINT MOVEMENT IN CONSERVATIVE METHODS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 26 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- FOREWORD TO THE GOLDEN JUBILEE EDITION
- FOREWORD
- PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION
- PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION
- CHAPTER I CONSERVATIVE VERSUS OPERATIVE METHODS
- CHAPTER II THE MECHANICS OF CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
- CHAPTER III JOINT MOVEMENT IN CONSERVATIVE METHODS
- CHAPTER IV THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURE SWITH OUT PLASTER OF PARIS
- CHAPTER V PLASTER TECHNIQUE
- CHAPTER VI FRACTURES OF THE SHAFT OF THE HUMERUS
- CHAPTER VII SUPRACONDYLAR FRACTURES OF THE HUMERUS IN CHILDREN
- CHAPTER VIII FRACTURES OF THE RADIUS AND ULNA
- CHAPTER IX THE COLLES' FRACTURE
- CHAPTER X THE BENNETT'S FRACTURE
- CHAPTER XI FINGER FRACTURES
- CHAPTER XII PERTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES OF THE NECK OF THE FEMUR
- CHAPTER XIII FRACTURES OF THE SHAFT OF THE FEMUR
- CHAPTER XIV FRACTURES OF THE FEMORAL AND TIBIAL CONDYLES
- CHAPTER XV FRACTURES OF THE SHAFT OF THE TIBIA
- CHAPTER XVI THE POTT'S FRACTURE
- INDEX
- THE JOHN CHARNLEY TRUST
Summary
Perfect anatomical restoration and perfect freedom of joint movement can be obtained simultaneously only by internal fixation. It is possible to argue that most of the difficulties of closed fracture treatment can be traced to the prevention of joint stiffness. Closed methods can offer anatomical restoration only if the start of joint movement is delayed. It is the significance of delay in starting joint movement which is the crucial point in understanding closed methods.
The ultimate recovery of full joint function after a fracture depends on many factors and not only on early exercise. This is suggested by the fact that the end results of conservative treatment, after a slow start, can often be surprisingly good, while those of operative methods, after a very promising start, can sometimes be disappointing. It is therefore obvious that we must review the factors which govern the recovery of joint movement following a fracture, so far as we know them.
In studying the stiffness of a joint following a fracture of an associated bone the greatest danger to the furtherance of knowledge is the too facile acceptance of simple mechanistic explanations. It is probable that the processes concerned with the recovery of joint function are of great biological complexity. Too often there is a tendency to think of stiff joints in terms of stiff engine-bearings or of rusty door-hinges and, with this childlike concept, to devise apparatus to loosen the stiffness by repeated mechanical movements.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Closed Treatment of Common Fractures , pp. 60 - 79Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003