Injuries of nerves and their consequences - Reflex Sympathetic ...

MUSCULAR LESIONS. 205
The handling of a musket brought back the pain,
which was a numb aching, extendino; to the hand. At
the same time the wrist began to flex anew, and forcibly,
with pain also in the wrist and in the track of the musculo-spiral
nerve; the hand being constantly cold, and
kept covered with a glove.
March 9, 1864, admitted to Turner's Lane Hospital.
—
Nutrition good; skin natural, but soft and moist, from
being covered and unused. Acid odor distinctly marked.
Examined by compass, no perceptible difl:'erence in tactile
sensation from the other hand. He feels the cold in
his right hand severely ;
it becomes cold easily. He has
every movement; but the iiuger flexion is limited by
the extreme bend of the wrist, for when in this condition,
the two flexors of the fingers cannot shorten enough
to flex the second and third digital joints. Of course
voluntary extension of the wrist is impossible, but he has
perfect extension of all the digital joints. The flexor carpi
radialis, the palmaris longus, and flexor carpi ulnaris are
very rigid, and when extended, contract violently.
These muscles appear to possess fully as
much electric
contractility as those of the other arm.
June 12.— Dr. Keen cut the tendons of the flexor carpi
radialis and palmaris longus completely, and that of the
flexor carpi ulnaris partially. The wrist was then brought
to a right line with the forearm, and placed on a Bond's
splint. Motion soon began to return to the fingers as
the soreness arising from change of position subsided.
The patient is now, July 1st, recovering rapidly.
Muscular 'paralysis and its consequences. — Loss of power
is of course the most common result of nerve wounds,
and may exist in every possible degree, from the slightest
defect to the most absolute annihilation of the motor function
of an entire limb. The consequences which follow, in
the shape of atrophy and contractions, I have already de-