ANKYLOSIS. 573 
Complete immobilization being difficult to realize in animals, ankylosis is 
less feared than in man ; however, during convalescence of arthropathies, 
it is indicated to submit the region to massage, and utilize douches, 
baths and exercise. 
With incomplete ankylosis, it is again to the same means that one . 
must resort: massage, hydrotherapy, moderate exercise, or passive 
action made with the hands and frequently repeated. 2 
In large animals, complete ankylosis is incurable. For those of the 
knee, elbow, shoulder, hock, stifle, nothing can be done. High and 
double neurotomy, that of the median or sciatic, may be tried for true or 
false phalangeal ankylosis. 
With small species the curative therapeutics can go further. If mas- 
sage, mobilization, exercise fail; if the ankylosis made in bad position 
interferes with locomotion, the means used in human surgery can be 
resorted to for animals. The sudden straightening is better than the 
progressive. Under anesthesia, the bones will be forced into good 
position by violent traction or by subcutaneous tenotomies. If there 
is complete bony ankylosis, it must be broken (arthroclasia). To create 
a false articulation by osteotomy or to resect the articular extremities 
sare more complex means, to this day not used in veterinary surgery. 
