FRACTURES OP THE PELVIS. 733 



pelvic fracture, but varies greatly in degree. In fractures in front 

 of the cotyloid cavity, particularly in fracture of the external angle 

 of the ilium, there is marked interference with movement of the 

 affected limb, and its forward stride is shortened. This is ascribable 

 to the fact that one of the muscles extending the thigh is attached 

 to the external angle of the ilium. Similar lameness is noticed in 

 some fractures of the tuber ischii. In either case equal weight is 

 placed on each foot. Fractures behind the cotyloid cavity with 

 division of the pelvic girdle produce marked lameness when weight 

 is placed on the leg (supporting leg lameness), 1 those into the 

 cotyloid cavity produce lameness, both when the leg is carried and 

 when weight is placed on it (mixed supporting and swinging leg 

 lameness). In fractures of the ischium and pubis there is often a 

 tendency to place the thigh in a position of abduction. Even when 

 these fractures are uniting, supporting leg lameness with abduction 

 of the thigh is not infrequent. In fractures into the cotyloid cavity, 

 especially when complicated with rupture of the ligamentum teres, 

 the thigh is more or less relaxed, whilst during one stride the foot 

 is abducted, and during the next adducted, causing the animal to 

 stumble. 



Supporting leg lameness also follows fracture of the foramen 

 ovale and of the transverse branch of the os pubis. In three cases 

 seen by Mo Her lameness was absent : once in a fracture of the 

 transverse branch of the os pubis, once in fracture through the os 

 pubis and os ischii parallel to the public symphysis, and once in 

 fracture of the external branch of the os ischii. The two latter 

 fractures may not produce lameness ; if then the animal is worked, 

 the pieces of bone are repeatedly thrust apart, and union is attended 

 with great difficulty, or may never occur. 



Nocard describes a peculiar lameness consequent on fracture through 

 the foramen ovale. The foot was advanced stiffly (tout d'un piece), the 

 thigh alone was normally moved, whilst the other parts of the leg seemed 

 passively to follow it. The foot described a circle outwards, the stride 

 being greatly shortened. This lameness, which Nocard ascribes to pressure 

 of the callus on the nerve in the obturator foramen, shows a great similarity 

 to that described by Moller as paralysis of the internal popliteal or of the 

 obturator nerve. It is not surprising, under the circumstances, that the 

 nerve should suffer disturbance of function. 



1 I have, somewhat reluctantly, introduced two new terms into English veterinary 

 phraseology. German veterinary surgeons employ two very convenient words, 

 which have no equivalent in English, to differentiate lameness most marked when 

 weight is thrown on the limb, and lameness most marked when the limb is carried. 

 The former term is in German Stiitzbeinlahmheit (literally, " supporting leg lame- 

 ness "), the latter Hangbeinlahmheit (literally " hanging or swinging lameness "). 

 [Jno. A. W. D.] 



