172 RESECTION OF THE FLEXOR FED IS TENDON. 



42. RESECTION OF THE FLEXOR PEDIS TENDON. 

 FIG. 12. 



Object. The removal of necrotic tissues and disinfection 

 in cases of infected wounds, chiefly of nail pricks of the 

 navicular bursa. 



Instruments. Elastic ligature, drawing knife, double- 

 edged sage knife, scissors, tenaculum forceps, curette, 

 scalpels, tenaculse, bandage material. 



Technic. Before the operation thin the horn of the sole, 

 frog and bars until the soft parts can be seen through them 

 and apply an antiseptic bandage saturated in creolin solution 

 for 24 hours if time will warrant. Secure the patient on the 

 operating table or by casting in lateral recumbency with the 

 affected foot extended. Anaesthetize. Cleanse and disinfect 

 the entire foot with soap, brush, creolin or sublimate solution 

 and 50% alcohol and apply the elastic tourniquet in the 

 metacarpal or metatarsal region. Make a transverse incision 

 through the base of the frog 2 to 3 cm. from the balls 

 through the horny and sensitive portions and the fatty 

 cushion down to the flexor pedis tendon. Follow this by 

 two curved incisions extending forward and inward in an 

 oblique direction corresponding to the semi-lunar crest of the 

 os pedis, the line of incision being in the bars about ^ cm. 

 outward from the lateral groove of the frog and uniting at 

 its apex. This triangular piece of frog which has been 

 isolated by the incision is now grasped with the tenaculuni 

 and dissected away. As a general rule the operator finds 

 that he has not yet reached the flexor pedis tendon but only 

 the fatty cushion which covers the latter. The remnants 

 of the fatty frog should be removed with the double-edged 

 sage knife or scalpel by means of a horizontal incision, and 

 there is then seen the greenish or yellowish colored necrotic 

 flexor pedis tendon, which may at times be covered with 



