SPRUNG KNEES, 321 
sutures ; cicatrization took place without suppuration; twelve days after 
the callus formed by the union of the tendinous stumps was as hard and as 
big as a French nut. From that time he had walking exercise, a month 
later did light work, and afterwards resumed his ordinary life, all cured. 
In a filly, Brachet first made on the level of the tendons an incision (3 
centimeters long) parallel to the fore arm, and 
divided them with a concaved bistoury. The 
result not being sufficiently satisfactory, he 
made “another section of the epicondilo me- 
tacarpal (internal flexor of the metacarpus), 
which prevented the complete extensions of | 
the leg.” The knee straightened almost en- 
tirely and there remained very little deviation. 
The separation of the ends of the tendons was 
about seven centimeters. “The knee was placed 
in a padded splint held in place with a wide 
bandage.. After a month the animal was free 
from pain and in one year had as good, firm 
action as others of her age (fig. 78). 
Like plantar tenotomy, the szscarpa/l must 
be performed subcutaneously. Lafosse, Gour- 
don, Peuch, have described the operation, 
which includes two steps: 1st, section of the 
external flexor; znd, that of the oblique. 
The animal is thrown on the sound side; 
one rope is secured on the upper portion of Fig. 78.—Part of the fore 
the fore arm, and pulled backwards; another, ae aoe pr sein 
attached to the canon or to the foot, is pulled rercieceerpis ie orcewal 
forward. flexor metacarpis. 
The operator places himself in front of the 
knee. The region prepared, a narrow puncture is made through the skin 
and the subcutaneous aponeurosis, about 5 centimeters above the suscar- 
pal bone, on the anterior border of the external flexor. Then the curved 
tenotome is introduced under the tendon, as far as its posterior border, 
and with it the tendon is divided, from forward backward, while the assist- 
ants are pulling on their ropes. The section of the oblique flexor is done 
in the same manner, the puncture of the skin being made on its anterior 
border and the division done as before. 
By cutting the tendons from backwards forwards, as in plantar tenotomy, 
there is more danger to cut the arterial divisions situated between the per- 
foratus and the perforans ; if the operation is performed too near the knee, 
there is danger of injuring the articular synovial sac or the carpal bursa. 
al 
