CHAPTER V. 
TENDINOUS SYNOVIAL SACS. 
I. 
TRAUMATIC LESIONS. 
Contusions of tendinous synovials are not rare. Slight, they terminate 
rapidly by resolution. When they are due to violent traumatic actions, 
specially when the injured bursa is on the level with a distended cul de 
sac, a bloody extravasation may take place in the sac; or sometimes a 
closed synovitis may follow. Their treatment is that indicated in the 
chapter on contusions in general. Later, if indicated, that of acute 
synovitis will be prescribed. 
There is great analogy between wounds of tendinous and those of 
articular synovials: same causes, same symptoms, same terminations, 
At times, one may hesitate in the diagnosis. There is a deep wound on 
the surface of the knee, of the hock, of the fetlock ; there is escape of 
synovia ; which sac is open? When there is no coexistence of tendinous 
and articular lesions, the topography of the synovials and the seat of the 
wound will solve the question. In doubtful cases, probing may give some 
light, but itis a dangerous operation. The therapeutical indications being 
the same in all cases, it is useless to expose a serous membrane, which 
may be aseptic, to infection. 
The treatment of penetrating wounds of tendinous synovials has varied 
much with time. Antiphlogistic method (bleeding, poultices, emollient 
lotions of all kinds) was abandoned long ago. Cold water and astringents 
have been often used successfully. Arnal has treated with cold baths 
and astringent lotions a steer wounded above the fetlock, by the prick of 
a fork, which had entered the sesamoid sheath; the animal resumed 
work in a week, the cicatrization taking place by first intention. On a 
horse suffering with a punctured wound of the foot, in which the small 
sesamoid synovial was injured, the result was as satisfactory: the foot 
unshod, the sole thinned out, the wound was covered with pads kept in 
place with a piece of leather, and the shoe secured with four nails; 
the horse was placed in running water in day time, and during the night 
had Goulard extract lotions applied ; in six days, recovery was completed. 
‘Trasbot has related a similar case: a nail had also penetrated the small 
sesamoid sac, the sole was thinned out, the fistula enlarged, and the 
wound irrigated with cold water; the 12th day, it was cicatrized. 
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