PLANTAR NEUROTOMY. 



173 



cision 3 to 5 cm. long, the lower angle of which is usually 

 just above the fetlock joint, cutting directly through the 

 skin, subcutem and connective tissue sheath down onto the 

 nerve, laying it bare. The borders of the cutaneous wound 

 are held apart with tenacula and by palpation with the 

 fingers or by vision it is determined if the nerve lies in the 

 middle of the wound. If necessary continue the dissection 

 with the scalpel until the nerve is clearly revealed ; it is 

 distinguished by its faintly yellowish color, its fine longi- 

 tudinal striae and its location behind the metacarpal artery. 

 Immediately above the fetlock joint the median metacar- 

 pal or metatarsal nerve divides into an anterior smaller, d, 

 and posterior larger branch, 0. This division should be 

 laid bare in order that the operator may not erroneously 

 cut one branch only. Immediately above this point of 

 division the aneurism needle is passed under the nerve, 

 pushed well through and forced up and down,, separating 

 the nerve from the adjacent tissues, the scissors or a small 

 probe-pointed bistoury is passed beneath and it is cut 

 through quickly at the superior angle of the wound. The 

 distal end of the nerve is then dissected free downward 

 and excised at the lower angle of the wound so that a section 

 3 to 5 cm. long is removed. The cutaneous wound is united 

 by a continuous suture and a temporary bandage applied. 

 If the horse has been secured by casting, the extension 

 splint, if it has been used, is then removed, the foot replaced 

 in the hobble and the horse turned to the other side. The 

 operation on the opposite metacarpal nerve is carried out 

 in the same way after which a sterile bandage is applied and 

 allowed to remain eight days. Healing by primary union. 



