Henry W. Meyerding

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CHRONIC ARTHRITIS: CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS

Into every physicians experience enter patients with arthritis who, in spite of every care, go on to partial or complete disability. The tremendous economic loss and the physical and mental suffering caused by this disease give it a place among the most distressing afflictions of the human race. Irrespective of persons, it runs its course to leave general physical injury and impaired function of joints. To correct the deformity and restore the use of the articulation require one experienced in reconstructive surgery of bones and joints. Before estimate as to the value of surgery is made, analysis must be made of the etiologic factors, such as age, trauma, type of infection, extent of injury to articulation, state of health, and duration of freedom from active symptoms. This demands knowledge of the history and of physical, laboratory and roentgenologic data. Without cooperation of the patient the most expert treatment will fail