126 LAMENESS OF THE HORSE 



sever the attachment of one of the common collateral ligaments. 

 Because of the width (transverse diameter) of the articulating 

 surfaces of this joint, lateral luxation requires a great strain; 

 and a force that is sufficient to occasion this trauma usually 

 causes serious additional injury. Therefore, the condition is 

 considered one wherein prognosis is always unfavoral)le in so 

 far as practical methods of treatment are concerned. 



Mr. A. Barbier^ reports a case of bilateral luxation of the fet- 

 lock joints of the hind legs in a horse. This was done in jump- 

 ing, and the extensor tendon of each leg was ruptured and the 

 anterior portion of the metatarsus was protruding tli rough the 

 skin. Profuse hemorrhage had taken place due to tearing of 

 the blood vessels. 



Symptomatology. — Entire luxation of this joint when present 

 is so evident that one cannot fail to recognize the condition. 

 Complete disarrangement of normal relation occurs and there is 

 either a breaking down of the inhil)itory njiparatus, or if a lateral 

 disarticulation exists, the normally straight line formed by the 

 bones of the front leg, as viewed from the front or rear, is broken 

 at the fetlock. 



Often fracture of bones are concomitant and then, of course, 

 mobility is increased and not decreased as is the case in un- 

 complicated luxation. 



Such violence occurs at times, when this joint is disarticulated, 

 that the joint capsule is also completely ruptured and the articu- 

 lar portion of the bones is exposed to view. 



Treatment.— The condition being practically a hopeless one, 

 destruction of the subject is the thing which should be promptly 

 done. Tn valuable breeding animals, owners may prefer that 

 treatment be attempted when a lateral luxation and detachment 

 of but one common ligament have permitted luxation without 

 complete disarticulation and rupture of the joint capsule. In 

 such eases, by immobilizing the affected parts as in fracture, 

 and confining the subject in a sling for about sixty days, partial 

 recovery may occur in some instances. 



Experience has shown that where luxation with detachment of 



^Extract from Receuil de M^decine V^t^rinaire in Ameircan Veterinary 

 Review, Vol. 23, p. 893. 



