Treatment of chronic ulcers of the leg.

England, 1933.

1 encoded moving image (34.31 min.) : silent, black and white

00:34:31

Segment 1 The intertitles explain that injection of veins is an essential part of the treatment. An ulcer is shown, an injection is made and a dressing is applied. The intertitles explain how to give the injection properly. A case of necrosis resulting from an excessive dose of morrhuate of soda solution is shown. The technique of combining ligation and injection of varicose veins is shown. A vein is exposed, injected and then the wound is sutured. Time start: 00:00:00:00 Time end: 00:06:35:07 Length: 00:06:35:07

Segment 2 The intertitles explain how to keep the leg and ulcer clean. Shots of typical leg ulcers are shown. A woman with an ulcerated leg is shown walking with difficulty, due to the pain of ulceration. The intertitles advise on the proper footwear for patients. The technique of bandaging a leg with elastoplast bandages is shown. The intertitles suggest that powdered aspirin can relieve some of the pain. Time start: 00:06:35:07 Time end: 00:12:40:00 Length: 00:06:04:18

Segment 3 Rubber pads can also be used in the bandaging technique to reinforce pressure on ulcers. Other types of bandaging are shown, including crepe bandaging and rubber adhesive. The section of the film that deals with the skin graft technique begins. The skin is anaesthetised in order to take a skin graft. The anaesthetised area is transfixed with hypodermic needles to raise a portion of the skin up. Time start: 00:12:40:00 Time end: 00:18:23:15 Length: 00:05:43:15

Segment 4 Forceps are used to steady the skin and stop bleeding. The skin graft is cut away. The skin is sutured. The skin graft is then cut up into small squares, which are pushed under the granulations of the ulcer with a blunt instrument. Time start: 00:18:23:15 Time end: 00:24:34:00 Length: 00:06:10:10

Segment 5 The intertitles explain that the patient is then kept still for seven to fourteen days with their leg strapped, so that the grafts can take. Another method of taking skin grafts is shown. Local anaesthetic is used and then the skin is cut using a scalpel and stencil. The skin graft is cut away. Time start: 00:24:34:00 Time end: 00:29:02:14 Length: 00:04:28:14

Segment 6 Sutures are sewn in to the skin graft area. The skin grafts are sewn beneath the granulations of the ulcer. An elastoplast dressing is applied and left on for seven days. The leg is shown three weeks later in its improved state. Time start: 00:29:02:14 Time end: 00:34:30:24 Length: 00:05:28:10

Produced by A. Dickson Wright.

Unrestricted

Public Domain Mark

Copyright previously held by British Medical Association and assigned to Wellcome in 2005