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11
Orthopaedic and Postural Defects.
Mr. E. A. Lindsay, F.R.C.S., continues to act as your
consultant Orthopaedic surgeon in the continued absence on
war duty of Mr. W. Eldon Tucker.
Although the majority of cases attending the Orthopaedic
Clinic are suffering from flat feet and knock knees, a number
of more serious cases continually appear. Recently there have
been four cases of congenital dislocation of the hip, two of
these children having both hips affected and requiring treatment
in special plaster splints.
There are also six cases of paralysis due to infantile paralysis
and congenital spasticity, and a few of the cases of surgical
tuberculosis are being treated quite successfully as out-patients
at the Clinic.
Accidents such as fractures and injured limbs appear at
times but these have to be treated in conjunction with the local
hospitals, usually the Erith District Hospital.
'The lack of a masseuse to treat these cases as well as those
suffering from such spinal deformities as scoliosis and bad
posture has been a serious drawback. We have to depend on
the patients doing their own exercises when shown, and also
on adjustments to shoes.
'The more serious of such cases have therefore to be sent
to the hospitals for treatment, but this may take much valuable
school time as well as tending to overload busy massage
departments.
I feel sure the general welfare of these children would
benefit materially if a masseuse could do this work at the
borough's orthopaedic clinic.