FRACTURE OF THE FEMUR 57 



the femoral groove and lies on the bone. Fracture through the shaft is 

 diagnosed without much difficulty if the palm of one hand be pressed 

 against the outer surface of the thigh and an effort be made to pull the 

 stifle outwardly. This may be accomplished with much less difficulty in 

 cases of fracture. This is particularly so if the fracture be across the 

 shaft near or below the inferior end of the groove for the femoral 

 vessels. 



Inability of the muscles will depend upon the seat of the fracture. 

 Should the fracture be in the lower third of the shaft, the adductors of 

 the thigh are not affected, and we get marked increased mobility of the 

 limb below the seat of fracture, abduction of this part being accentuated 

 by the fact that the adductors keep the upper two-thirds of the femur 

 in a state of adduction. 



When one or both condyles are fractured displacement usually 

 takes place in the backward direction, the extensor muscles of the 

 stifle are relaxed, and the joint held in a condition of flexion. The 

 symptoms presented in these cases are not unlike those of stifle joint 

 disease (gonitis). In cases of fracture, however, lameness appears 

 suddenly. 



Fracture through the neck, shaft, or condyles is as a rule followed 

 by unfavourable results, particularly when the condyles are fractured. 

 Cases where favourable results have been achieved have not, however, 

 infrequently been reported. 



Plate XIV. represents a case of fracture of the femur of the right 

 limb. Both condyles and the trochlea were fractured. Nevertheless 

 firm union took place. The affected limb was slightly shorter than 

 the sound one and the stifle remained deformed, bulging outwardly not 

 unlike some cases of crural paralysis. The articular surfaces were not 

 affected, and the animal was able freely to flex and extend the joint. 



Treatment of fractured femur consists in resting the animal and 

 placing him in slings. Some assistance in reducing the fracture may be 

 obtained by placing the animal under an anesthetic. This should be 



