OPEN JOINTS 



By MART R. STEFFENS, V.S., M.D.C. 



This subject will be considered in two parts — open 

 joints of recent origin in fresh, wounds, and those of a 

 chronic or subacute and infected character. 



Fresh Wounds Lacerating a Capsular Ligament 



It frequently happens as the result of accidents that 

 an articulation is involved in the trauma. While all 

 accidental wounds in veterinary patients are to be con- 

 sidered surgically unclean, it is well not to carry this 

 theory too far. Unless much extraneous matter, such 

 as hair, chaff, etc., has entered directly into the articula- 

 tion do not allow antiseptic solutions to penetrate to the 

 synovial surfaces when you clean up such a wound. 



Swab the surroundings as clean as possible with a cot- 

 ton swab, but do not allow any of the solution to reach 

 the joint. Nothing seems to irritate a synovial joint 

 more than water. 



After the surrounding parts are thoroughly swabbed 

 and dried with clean, dry cotton, the wound cavity is 

 completely filled with chemically pure powdered sodium 

 bicarbonate, some of which is even gently pressed so as 

 to enter the synovial cavity. It is important that 

 enough be used. A thin layer of cotton is now made 

 to cover the lesion and is retained either with col- 

 lodion or bandages. 



This dressing is allowed to remain for twenty-four 

 hours. At the end of that time it is removed and 

 the wound carefully inspected for synovia. No instru- 



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