Title: Leichty, J.

Source text: The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.), Part 3, Volume 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1883), 447.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the lower extremitieswounds and operations in the legshot fractures of the bones of the legexcisions in the continuity of the bones of the leg for shot injuryprimary excisions in the shaft of the tibia, of the fibula, or of both bonesrecoveries after primary excisions in the continuity of the bones of the legshot fracture of fibula of legresection performed at field hospitalinjured fibula excised on fieldwalks lame, tendons back of knee contractedfoot cannot be planted eventoes of foot tend to turn downwardsecondary hæmorrhage, posterior tibial artery ligatedfractured fibula excised

Civil War Washington ID: med.d2e18643

TEI/XML: med.d2e18643.xml


CASE 708.—Private J. Leichty, Co. F, 8th Pennsylvania Reserves, aged 21 years, received a shot fracture of the fibula of the left leg, at Spottsylvania​, May 11, 1864. Surgeon L. W. Read, U. S. V., reported that he was admitted to the field hospital of the 3d division, Fifth Corps, where "resection was performed by Surgeon T. Jones, 8th Pennsylvania Reserves." Assistant Surgeon A. Ingram, U. S. A., contributed the following history: "The wounded man entered Judiciary Square Hospital, Washington, May 18th. About six inches of the injured fibula had been excised on the field. Secondary hæmorrhage occurred from the posterior tibial artery to the amount of thirty-two ounces, when the vessel was ligated in the wound. By June 14th the patient was progressing well. Cold-water dressings were used, and milk punch and a supporting treatment was administered." The patient was subsequently transferred to hospital at Alexandria, whence he was discharged from service January 11, 1865, and pensioned. Examining Surgeon J. McCullock, of Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1867, described the wound, and added that the "leg has sloughed largely and discharged a number of pieces of bone, the last one about three weeks ago. Since that time the wound has healed; tendons back of knee contracted; walks lame; wound painful," etc. Examiner A. B. Brumbaugh reported, in 1877, that, as a result of the resection, "The foot cannot be planted even, as it would turn outward from the want of fibular support, and he has to keep his shoe blocked up accordingly to support the foot. The toes of the left foot tend to turn downward, like hooks, from injury to the nerves and muscles. The leg is not quite but almost useless for all purposes of manual labor." The pensioner was paid March 4, 1880.