Amputation; Artificial limbs; Orthopedics; Surgery, Military
This very ingenious combination, which, however, necessitates a rather
complex mechanism, was devised by Palmer in 1850. It is carried out
in the limb made by Frees, the mechanism of which will be seen to
resemble that of the articulated foot shown on page 54 in figures 87
and 88.
Above the axis of the knee joint and at right angles to it is a wooden
cross piece, to which are attached three cords, two behind the joint,
one in front; these cords emerge from the thigh piece through an
opening in its lower end (Figs. 90 to 92).
The posterior of these cords, made of hemp, ends inside the upper
third of the leg. It limits the extension of the knee, exactly as
described in the Marks leg.
The other two cords extend down to the foot, which is attached in a
manner very similar to that shown on page 54, but with a single rubber
cylinder behind, and with the instep cut obliquely so that when the
joint is in the resting position of equinus there is an opening in
front amounting to an angle of 15° to 20°. The posterior cord, of
hemp, is attached in the heel; the anterior, made of catgut with an
indiarubber section, enters the foot obliquely and is fixed a little
in front of the middle of the sole.
When the knee flexes, the wooden cross piece tilts, its posterior end
becoming lower, its anterior higher (Figs. 91 and 92), the elastic of
the anterior cord is tightened, thus raising the front of the foot,
whilst at the same time the heel cord is relaxed. Thus the mechanism
which produces extension of the knee acts at the same time upon
the foot; when the knee is straight the foot is plantar flexed to
20°, when the knee flexes the foot comes to a right angle. Thus the
foot becomes dorsiflexed at the same time as the knee flexes, as in
ordinary walking.
If the action in walking is watched, it will be seen that as the limb
is swung forward, the toe is raised so as to clear the ground.[7]
[7] The mechanism of this artificial leg resembles that of the "tendon
leg," which was in such common use in England before the present war
that it is often called the English pattern.--(ED.)
[Illustration: FIG. 90.
FIG. 91.
FIG. 92.--(FIGS. 90 to 92. Foot and Knee of Frees.)]
In the sitting position the anterior cord is not relaxed, there is no
dead point, so that the knee always tends to extend. This is somewhat
inconvenient.
_Conversion of the articulated peg leg into the leg with free knee
movement and vice versâ._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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