DISEASES OF THE HOKSE. 321 



FRACTURE OF THE FOREARM. 



A fracture in this region may also involve the radius or the ulna^ 

 the latter being broken at times in its upper portion aboA'e the radio- 

 ulnar arch at the olecranon. If the fracture occurs at any part of the 

 forearm from the radio-ulnar arch down to the knee, it may involve 

 either the radius alone or the radius and the cubitus, which are there 

 intimately united. 



Cause. — Besides having the same etiology with most of the fractures, 

 those of the forearm are, nevertheless, more commonly due to kicks 

 from other animals, especially when crowded together in large num- 

 bers in insufficient space. It is a matter of observation that, under 

 these circumstances, fractures of the incomplete kind are those which 

 occur on the inside of the leg, the bone being in that region almost 

 entirely subcutaneous, while those of the complete class are either 

 oblique or transverse. The least common are the longitudinal, in the 

 long axis of the bone. 



Symptoms,- — This variety of fracture is easily recognized by the 

 appearance of the leg and the different changes it undergoes. There 

 is inability to use the limb; impossibility of locomotion; mobility 

 below the injury; the ready detection of crepitation — in a word, the; 

 assemblage of all the signs and symptoms which have been already 

 considered as associated with the history of broken bones. 



The fracture of the ulna alone, principally above the radio-ulnar 

 arch, may be ascertained by the aggravated lameness, the excessive 

 soreness on pressure, and perhaps a certain increase of motion, with 

 a very slight crepitation if tested in the usual wa^^ Displacement 

 is not likely to take place except when it is well up toward the ole- 

 cranon or its tuberosity, the upper segment of the bone being in that 

 case likely to be drawn upward. For a simple fracture of this region 

 there exists a fair chance of recovery, but in a case of the compound 

 and comminuted class there is less ground for a favorable prognosis, 

 especiall}^ if the elboy>" joint has suffered injury. A fracture of the 

 ulna alone is not of serious importance, except when the same con- 

 ditions prevail. A fracture of the olecranon is less amenable to 

 treatment, and promises little better than a ligamentous union. 



Treatraent. — Considering all the various conditions involving the 

 nature and extent of these lesions, the position and direction of the 

 bones of the forearm are such as to render the chances for recovery 

 from fracture as among the best. The reduction, by extension and- 

 counter extension; the maintenance of the coaptation of the segments; 

 the adaptation of the dressing by splints, oaKum, and agglutinative 

 mixtures; in fact, all the details of treatment may be here fulfilled 

 with a degree of facility and precision not attainable in any other part 

 of the organism. An important, if not an essential, point, however, 

 14384—03 21 



