LAMENESS IN THE FORE LEG 97 



street ears or wagons), a comminuted fracture of one or more 

 bones exists. The accessory carpal bone (trapezium) is said to 

 be fractured at times without being subjected to blows or like 

 injuries, but this is exceptional. 



Luxations of the carpal joint are of rare occurrence, and very 

 few cases of this kind are on record. Walters^ reports a case 

 of carpometacarpal luxation in a pony wherein reduction was 

 spontaneous and an uneventful recovery followed. His reason 

 for reporting the case, as he states, is its rarity. 



Symptomatology. — Fractures of the carpal bones as they 

 usually take place are diagnosed without difficulty. Because 

 of their usually being comminuted, abnormal movement of the 

 joint is possible. Such movement is not restricted and flexion 

 of the leg at the carpus in any direction is possible. Crepitation 

 is readily detected and frequently these fractures are of the 

 compound-comminuted variety. 



In fracture of the accessory carpal bone (trapezium) or in 

 fracture of any other single bone when such exists, there is no 

 increase in the movement of the joint. The accessory carpal 

 bone may be readily manipulated and when fractured, its parts 

 are more or less displaced. Recognition of fracture of any other 

 single carpal bone must be done by detecting crepitation unless 

 it be a compound fracture, whereupon probing is of aid in es- 

 tablishing a diagnosis. 



Carpal luxation when present is to be recognized by finding 

 the apposing carpal bones joined in an abnormal manner — that 

 is, out of position. There is restricted or suspended function 

 of the joint, and in the cases recorded, no difficulty has been 

 experienced in making a diagnosis. The carpometacarpal por- 

 tion of the articulation is the part which is usually affected. 



Prognosis and Treatment. — There is no chance for complete 

 recovery in the usual case of carpal fracture because of the fact 

 that there results sufficient arthritis to destroy articular cartilage 

 beyond repair. In the average instance, because of arthritis 

 which persists for a considerable length of time, more or less 

 ankylosis results. At best, one can only hope for partial re- 



iWilfred Walters, American Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 8, p. 606. 



