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Orthopaedic Clinics - Hornsey
Specialist clinics have continued to be held for children found, in
course of routine medical inspections or by reference from general practitioners,
to have orthopaedic or postural defects. Remedial treatment is under
taken by the physiotherapists associated with the particular clinic.
The visiting consultant, Mr. E. T. Bailey, F. R.C.S., reports that of
the new cases seen at the clinic, five were referred to the Highlands General
Hospital for operative treatment. Following the outbreak of poliomyelitis in
1959, four children were treated at the clinic for residual paralysis with the
probability that treatment will continue throughout the remainder of their
school life. Two are of moderate severity unlikely adversely to affect their
schooling. One is rather more severe but with the tenacity so often seen in
such cases he has managed to attain the grade necessary for him to return to
his original school. The fourth is under five years of age but her disability
is of such severity that she will in all probability require to be educated at the
Special Day School for Physically Handicapped.
Special reference is made by Mr. Bailey to children who in the past
have had to grow up with one leg shortened by reason of poliomyelitis, congenital
defect or due to some other cause and to wear shoes raised to correct
the defect. This may be unsightly and resented by the wearer. Such cases
taken sufficiently early can, at the appropriate time, have an operation carried
out upon the normal leg, which slows its growth so that at the time when
growth ceases the legs are equal in length. One such case attending the
clinic has been so treated, and further cases will have similar treatment in
due course.
Ophthalmic Clinics - Hornsey
The visiting consultant, Dr. R.Welch, reports that in addition to a busy
year correcting errors of refraction responsible for defective vision and symptoms
of eye strain, special attention has been given at the clinic to the treatment
of cases of squint and particularly those with amblyopia. It cannot be
over-stressed that once the error of refraction has been corrected and occlusion
of fixing eye adopted, cases of squint require the closest supervision
until the defective vision is restored to normal or is greatly improved. If
during this period the visual axes have not become parallel, then surgical procedure
is essential to cure the squint. The orthoptist (Miss Cobb) at the
clinic is able to give follow-up training to re-establish and maintain binocular
single vision which is of such vital importance.
Three unusual cases occurred during the year requiring reference to
hospital. One was a congenital nystagmus with bilateral cataract and microphthalmos.
Finally considered as unsuitable for operative treatment this boy
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