198 VETERINARY SURGICAL OPERATIONS 



the deformity and strength of the adhesions. Special ap- 

 paratuses have been improvised for this particular purpose, 

 but these are not absolutely necessary. Traction upon 

 ropes advantageously adjusted to the deformed leg is gen- 

 erally effectual. When the deformity has been thus cor- 

 rected, a retention bandage is necessary to retain the articu- 

 lation in the normal position. It may return to the old 

 position, or else break down entirely in the opposite direc- 

 tion. A bandage is necessary to support the parts for some 

 days after large supporting tendons have been divided. 

 Another feature of these operations is the necessary atten- 

 tion to the hoof, which has grown too long at the heels to 

 allow the joints to fall into their normal positions. This 

 aggravated hoof growth should be trimmed before the oper- 

 ation is performed; that is, the hoof should be pared to its 

 normal shape. 



Carpal Tenotomy. 



DEFINITION. — Carpal tenotomy is the name we ap- 

 ply to the subcutaneous division of the tendons of the flexor 

 metacarpi medius and flexor metacarpi externus, a short dis- 

 tance above the trapezium, for the purpose of correcting the 

 articular deformity of the horse known as "knee-sprung." 



INDICATIONS.— In a normal leg the line formed by 

 the radius, carpus and metacarpus, is a straight one. When 

 this straight line is interrupted at the carpus by chronic 

 flexion, the horse is said to be "knee-sprung," or, in still 

 more vulgar parlance, "cut out at the knees." This common 

 condition is sometimes congenital, sometimes acquired. The 

 new-born frequently presents the deformity in an ag- 

 gravated form, but it gradually improves as the skeletal and 

 muscular systems develop toward maturity. It sometimes 

 happens that the improvement is not perfected, and the sub- 

 ject is left with a permanent deformity. The carpus or 

 both carpi, are thrown forward; they are "shaky." The 

 horse is said to be "cut out" or "shaky" at the knees. There 

 is no definite lesion. The structures comprising the articu- 

 lation and the muscles attached to it are free from disease, 

 but they are anatomically deformed. The flexor tendons are 

 too short, and the bones have developed in shape to ac- 

 commodate themselves to the position they are thus forced 

 to occupy. If the tendons are divided, it may be found that 

 the binding ligaments and the osseous apophyses will pre- 

 vent the perfect reposition of the articulation. The de- 

 formity may be only partially corrected and the shape of 



