Synovitis of Wrist 



287 



arches, and, as shown elsewhere (p. 280), the lines of the clefts of 

 the fingers must also be avoided. Pus lying deeply must be reached 

 with the director ; but if an abscess have extended from the palm and 

 along the flexor tendons it may be necessary to slit boldly through 

 the anterior annular ligament. 



In synovitis of the wrist there is a bulging all around the joint, 

 so that the depressions are effaced and the position of the tendons is 

 obscured. There is pain on moving the wrist, and also on pressing the 

 carpus against the radial socket or drawing the articular surfaces asun- 

 der. I have recently had two patients under my care who had at the 

 same time sub-acute inflammation of the wrist-joint and acute effusion 

 into the synovial membrane of the extensor communis digitorum. Doubt- 

 less in these persons there was a gap in the posterior ligament through 

 which the two synovial membranes were continuous. The fore-arm 



E.M.D. 



E.C.U. 



Lister's excision of wrist. 



and hand were secured in a moulded splint for some months, and the 

 disease completely subsided. 



