View report page

Orthopaedic Clinics
Specialist clinics in both boroughs for children found to have
orthopaedic or postural defects have been very well attended throughout
1960. Such cases are found at routine school medical inspection
or referred by general practitioners. The physiotherapists have
been at full stretch to provide the remedial therapy and breathing
exercises prescribed by consultants to the clinics.
In Hornsey, Mr. E. G. M. Palser has deputised for Mr.
E. T. Bailey, F. R. C.S. on occasions and, as the waiting list of
new cases shows no signs of waning despite long and heavy clinics,
the introduction of additional sessions is envisaged in 1961.
The postural defects of teenagers has been the special concern
of Mr. E. Hambly, F.R. C.S., the visiting consultant at Tottenham,
and he also continues to supervise the orthopaedic cases at the Vale
Road School for Physically Handicapped Children. Of all such
Cases, few call for more care than children with muscular dystrophy,
yet patient and careful physiotherapy can do much to render school
life more enjoyable for such children. To this end, every help
and encouragement is given by the headmaster (Mr. Ives) and the
teaching staff.
Ophthalmic Clinics
During the past year the Hornsey Eye Clinic has continued to
be very busy, the majority of cases being referred for defects of
vision due to errors of refraction. These were dealt with in the
usual way and glasses prescribed.
The visiting consultant, Dr. R. Welch, has, however, drawn
attention to the large number of children who required a period of
continuous treatment, especially those suffering from uni-ocular
amblyopia Here, the vision in one eye is of a much lower
standard than in the other, due either to a convergent squint or
aniso-metropia. The requisite treatment, after the error of refraction
has been corrected consists of occluding the non-amblyopic eye
for periods varying from three to four months and during that period
the children are seen at fortnightly intervals in the orthoptic clinic,
where a careful record of the visual acuity is kept. As soon as
the vision in the amblyopic eye has improved to near that of the
Other eye a course of orthoptic treatment is given to establish and
maintain binocular vision.
To obtained the best results early detection of the condition is
essential and enquiry should be made as to whether there is a family
89