ADRENOCORTICAL RESPONSE IN OPERATIVE PROCEDURES UPON THE BONES AND JOINTS

¹ New York, N. Y.

We have presented the results of a study of eosinophil levels in 177 patients. Of these, fifty-two were healthy persons used as controls and 125 were patients who were suffering from various disabilities or injuries of the skeletal system and who underwent different surgical procedures. We have described the important metabolic effects taking place in the body, which depend chiefly upon the response of the adrenal gland to the stimulus of injury, and have pointed out the significant findings. We have employed the eosinophil count only as an indicator of these activities.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the metabolic processes we are trying to observe are multiple and complicated. The study of eosinophil levels, which is the method we have employed, may be likened to the opening of one small window through which may be obtained only an imperfect glimpse of the many activities going on within. Many other avenues of approach must be explored before we can penetrate to a point where we can obtain a clearer understanding of these complex mechanisms. We believe that a greater knowledge of them is important to orthopaedic surgeons and will promote the welfare of their patients.

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