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Orthopaedic Clinics
Specialist clinics have continued to be held in both Boroughs for children found, in course
of routine medical inspections or by reference from general medical practitioners, to have
orthopaedic or postural defects. Remedial treatment is undertaken by the physiotherapists
associated with the particular clinic.
Hornsey
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 attending case the clinic has been so treated, and further cases will
have similar treatment in due course.
Tottenham
The visiting consultant, Mr. E. Hambly, F.R.C.S., emphasises an important aspect of the
clinic's work in the treatment of postural defects in teenagers, which appear to be more in
evidence as children appear to grow taller every year.
Supervision of the orthopaedic cases at the Special (Day) School for Physically Handicapped
children at Vale Road, Tottenham, is Mr. Hambly's special care, and with one of the school
medical officers (Dr. V. Tracey), and the school health visitor and the physiotherapists, close
co-operation is maintained with the head master (Mr. Ives) and his teaching staff.
Ophthalmic Clinics
Homsey
The visiting consultant, Dr. R. Welch, reports that in addition to a busy year correcting
errors of refraction responsible for a 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 microphthalinos. Finally considered as