168 



HEALTH AND DISEASE 



TENOTOMY 



For the most part this operation aims at straightening deformed limbs 

 by division of the tendons where, as the result of sprain or other causes, 

 they have become contracted, or where from congenital deficiency of 

 development they are abnormally short. A preliminary dose of aloes or 

 some diuretic medicine may be advantageously employed where the limb 

 is thick or swollen, as this tends to remove any temporary swelling and 



bring the tendons more clear- 

 ly into view. 



Animals with contracted 

 tendons have usually a 

 very overgrow r n foot at 

 the heel. This should be 

 brought to the ordinary 

 level before operation. The 

 tendons which most fre- 

 quently call for treatment 

 are the large flexors of the 

 fore and hind limbs, " per- 

 forans" and " perforatus ". 

 Cunean tenotomy is prac- 

 tised for stringhalt when due 

 to adhesions connected with 

 spavin or other lesions in 

 the immediate neighbour- 

 hood, but is of doubtful 

 value. The operation, in 

 any case, should be per- 

 formed under chloroform. 

 The position chosen for 



dividing the "perforans" or "perforatus" tendon is a little below the 

 middle of the canon, or rather less than half-way between the fetlock 

 and knee of a fore-limb, and the fetlock and hock of a hind one. 



The horse having been prepared, and everything in readiness, he is cast 

 in the usual way, and the cross-straps are placed upon his legs above the 

 hocks and knees (Plate LIV), the horse lying upon that side on which are the 

 limbs we intend to operate upon, a position which will enable us to operate 

 on the inner side of the limb. The writer's reasons for preferring the inner 

 side are that the cicatrix is less in view than it would be if it existed on 

 the outer side, and we are not likely to wound the oblique branch of nerve 



Fig. 512. Cunean Tenotomy. Scalpel inserted, forceps 

 holding away fascia 



