Hips and makers

A slight grinding, sound then a sharp pop, resulting in perfect alignment. There are few things more satisfying than when a joint goes back into place. I can’t say I have a lot of experience, but I have reduced a few dislocated shoulders, and of course there was the time that I got to put Chuck’s knee back into place on the Ultimate field (I still get the willys thinking about it…).

Yesterday we flew to Kipnuk in the early hours of the morning to pick up a patient who had driven off the end of the airstrip on his 4 wheeler at around 2 a.m. His trajectory somehow directed him to land on his right leg, dislocating his right hip. After we had assessed him thoroughly, flown him back to Bethel, and shot enough x-rays to insure that nothing had been fractured, it was time to put things back into place.

Normally with shoulders, some mild sedation and pain control is all that is necessary before putting things back into place. With a hip, the muscles are so huge that spasms can make it nearly impossible to put it back into place manually. We wound up taking our patient to the O.R. and putting him under general anesthesia (totally asleep) before pulling the joint back into place. Instant relief of pain, and that leg that was pointing a completely improper direction, once again in proper alignment. Beautiful. I love it when a plan comes together.