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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Home Medical and Vet Remedies, as Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors and Vets! |
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Dislocation of the Lower Jaw.The lower jaw may be dislocated on one side only or on both sides at the same time ; the latter accident is the more common. The dislocation may be caused by direct violence, such as a blow or the extraction of a tooth ; indeed, there are numerous wrays in which the accident has been brought about. The most common of these is the muscular action which accompanies the act of gaping or yawning. It is a little singular that this accident occurs more frequently in women than in men ; it has been known to happen as an incident in a curtain lecture. Symptoms. - This condition is easily recognized even by the inexperienced ; the chin is more prominent than natural and projects downward, the patient being unable to close the mouth ; there is an unnatural depression in front of the ear, and sometimes a prominence at the back part of the cheek, which is not observed in the natural condition. If but one side be dislocated, the chin and jaw project toward the opposite side, while if both sides of the bone be displaced, there is simply a forward and downward projection of the jaw. Treatment.-The simplest and best way for reducing a dislocation of the jaw is as follows: The operator stands in front of the patient and introduces the thumbs, wrapped in a soft napkin or protected by a thick glove, into the patient's mouth, until they rest upon the teeth of the lower jaw, as far back as they can be placed. The fingers meanwhile grasp the chin. Pressure is then made upon the teeth by means of the thumbs, so as to force the jaw downward and at the same time press it backward, Meanwhile the chin is pressed toward the upper jaw by means of the fingers which grasp it. The thumbs thus act, to a certain extent, as fulcra, while the jaw becomes a lever. Considerable force must be used to overcome the contraction of the powerful muscles which are attached to the back part of the jawbone ; but if pressure be steadily made, it is usually possible to effect the reduction in this way. An unpleasant feature of this method is the bruising which the thumbs of the operator are almost certain to receive, either during the operation or at the moment when the jaw glides backward into its place ; for at this moment the mouth is firmly closed even without the will of the patient. In order to avoid this injury to the thumbs of the operator, another method is often employed, which differs from the one just described merely in the substitution of two pieces of cork for the thumbs. The patient sits upon the floor, his head being placed between the knees of the surgeon. Two pieces of cork a quarter of an inch or more thick are placed between the teeth of the two jaws, as far back as possible. The operator then presses the chin upward toward the upper jaw and forces it gently backward at the same time. This method may be tried first, and if it fails, the one first described should be employed. Extreme care should be taken in the use of the jaw after it has been once dislocated, for it is extremely prone to displacements subsequently, even after slight violence. Cases have occurred in which the dislocation was not reduced ; in such instances a new joint is formed, which answers the purpose reasonably well. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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