Compound Dislocation of the Knee-Joint; Recovery without Amputation

CojirouND dislocation of the knee-joint is an accident which is SO very rare tliat every instance is worthy of narration. It is one of the most formidable injuries to which the lower extremities are liable. The terrible laceration of the soft parts, with extensive extravasation of blood ana the protrusion of the condyles of the femur through a large external wound, imperatively demand amputation of the limb. The extreme and almost irreparable destruction of parts induces authors and eminent surgeons, such as Sir A. Cooper, Erichsen, Taylor, Davies, Richards; and M. Roberts, to regard this injury as specially demanding primary amputation. But where the patient is young, and the vessels, tendons, and nerves do not appear to have been seriously damaged, my much respected teacher, Professor Fayrer, has taught me to make every attempt to save the limb. I am induced to place on record the following case of compound dislocation of the knee-joint, not only as one of unusual occurrence, but also as one where the injured limb was cured