What can be done for stiff joints? Can the motion be restored?

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Stiff Joints

Q. What can be done for stiff joints? Can the motion be restored?

A. There are two classes of stiff joints: I. Those in which the stiffness is due to adhesions in or around the joint, to adhesions or contrac­tions of muscles, to a floating cartilage in the joint or to growths due to osteo-arthritis or rheu­matic gout. 2. Those in which the ends of the bones forming the joints have become joined to­gether by bony union as a single bone. The con­dition of the joint may be determined by an x-ray examination.

In cases of the first class, motion can usually be restored to the joint either by fomentations, massage and passive movements or by mobilizing the joint under anesthesia. Mobilization should not be attempted in cases in which the stiffness is due to tuberculous disease, in cases in which there is much heat without fluid in the joint, nor in cases in which the muscles are rigid or ad­herent.

Any joint which is not absolutely stiff, which is not hot and contains no fluid may be forcibly mobilized under anesthesia without risk.

A few surgeons have succeeded in restoring motion to joints which have been destroyed by union of the bones, but such joints are usually weak and troublesome and the results have been on the whole disappointing.

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