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FRACTURES OF THE FELVIS. 



(2) Fractures of the pelvis with division of the pelvic girdle. 

 These include fractures of the shaft of the ilium (3), through the 

 cotyloid cavity (5), through the obturator foramen, i.e., simultaneous 

 fracture of the oblique branch of the os pubis and of the external 

 branch of the ischium (4 and 4a), and finally, fractures through the 

 os pubis and os ischii, parallel to the symphysis pubis (7). Multiple 

 or comminuted fractures of the pelvic bones sometimes occur. 

 Fracture of the ilium complicated with fracture through the obturator 

 foramen is often seen ; and one reported case showed simultaneously 

 double-sided fracture of the inner angle of the ilium and fracture 



Fig. 450. — Schema illustrating fractures of the pelvis in the horse. 

 Fracture of (1) external iliac angle; (2) internal iliac angle; (3) shaft of the ilium ; 



(4) transverse portion of the os pubis ; (4a) external portion of the ischium ; 



(5) cotyloid cavity ; (6) tuber ischii ; (7) symphysis pubis. 



of the femur. It must not be forgotten that such multiple 

 fractures do not always occur together, but may only be developed 

 by moving the animal. Immediately the pelvic girdle is divided, 

 there is danger of further fracture occurring from the entire weight 

 being thrown on the diseased side ; this is commonest after injury 

 to the inner angle of the ilium. Huth saw one case, post-mortem, 

 with four completely united fractures. 



Symptoms. Diagnosis of fractured pelvis is easy when crepitation 

 exists. Otherwise careful search is required, including examination 

 by the rectum or vagina. The most important symptoms are :— 



(1) Lameness. This sets in suddenly, is seldom absent in recent 



