NEURECTOMY IN SPAVIN. 



1009 



those that were traced, many had remained for years free from 

 lameness. 



Klemm's method of dividing the flexor metatarsi muscle 3 or 4 

 inches above the hock-joint is, in Moller's experience, useless. If 

 divided completely, lameness follows similar to that after rupture 

 of the tendon (see " Rupture of the Flexor Metatarsi "). By giving 

 four to six weeks' rest, the joint may become anchylosed, and lameness 

 disappear, but this often fails to occur. 

 Partial section sometimes disguises the 

 stringhalt-like lameness, but cannot cure 

 the disease of the joint, and the owner 

 generally returns after an interval to sub- 

 mit the horse to further treatment. 



In the Prussian army the actual cautery 

 has, during the last few years, been largely 

 used in treating spavin, the successes num- 

 bering about 60 per cent. The method 

 recommended consists in perforating the 

 bursa with a pyriform iron, which is passed 

 into the bone. Periosteotomy proved of less 

 value. It must, however, be remembered 

 that in no other disease are diagnostic 

 errors so frequent as here, for even the 

 most careful examination often leads to 

 no definite conclusion. Serious methods of 

 treatment are only applied to serious con- 

 ditions, i.e., to cases 'in which disease has 

 made extensive progress, whilst the milder 

 cases are blistered or fired ; especially in 

 the army where firing and blistering are 

 greatly relied on. 



In a number of cases where the spavin 

 is old, large, diffuse, and especially when it 

 extends far forwards towards the bend of the hock, firing, even 

 if repeated, and section of the cunean branch of the flexor 

 metatarsi tendon fail, or only yield a very modified success ; 

 lameness persists or is remittent, being less marked after a certain 

 amount of exercise than on leaving the stable, though sometimes 

 it is equally pronounced before and after exercise : in these rebellious 

 cases double neurectomy of the posterior and anterior tibial nerves, 

 the latter a branch of the external popliteal, has been recommended. 

 This treatment of obstinate spavin by neurectomy is based on the 



Fig. 539.— Rubber cord 

 applied to thigh to check 

 bleeding. In neurectomy 

 of the posterior tibial nerve 

 the cord would be applied 

 rather higher. 



