Word: flexion
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Formed in the Womb. The patterns of fingerprints and the fine lines on the palm are established by the fourth month of life in the womb. The more conspicuous "flexion creases" (the palmist's "heart, head and life lines") are formed a month or two earlier. In normal palms, the heart and head lines are separate and distinct, and neither extends clear across the palm. In many victims of mongolism and of prenatal rubella, however, they are replaced by a single "simian crease," like that on a monkey's palm. At the Children's Medical Research Foundation...
Because finger nerves are too small for grafting, the transplanted digit has little or no sensation, and there is not much flexion at its joints. The new finger must be moved as a unit from the knuckle. This is no great drawback, particularly for thumb grafts, which have enabled patients to pick up and use tools, a pen, a spoon or a glass...
...objective of surgery in such cases is not only to re-establish joint space by the cutting and removal of thickened tissue, but also to relocate tightened tendons so maximum flexion is obtained in the joints. Dr. Sakellarides began the operation at the joints between hand and fingers where he made an incision across the knuckles, cut through joint tissue, and removed the heads of the hand bones. Then he moved down to the finger joints where he cut out more thickened tissue, removed some ligaments, as well as the shortened tendon fibers which cause swan-neck deformity...
...maintain himself upright. Five minutes after the injection he trumpeted, collapsed, fell heavily onto his right side, defecated, and went into status epilepticus. The limbs on the left side were hyperextended and held stiffly out from the body; the limbs on the right side were drawn up in partial flexion; there were tremors throughout. The eyes were closed and showed a spasm of the orbicularis occuli; the eyeballs were turned sharply to the left, with markedly dilated pupils. The mouth was open, but breathing was extremely labored and stertorous..." But why go on? "He died 1 hour and 40 minutes...