LUXATION OF THE FEMUR. 
663 
Treatment. Large animals are cast on the sound side and anaesthe¬ 
tised ; and, as the operator’s strength is not sufficient to extend the limb, 
it becomes necessary to use mechanical aids. Extension once effected, 
it remains for the operator to effect reposition. This may sometimes be 
done by abduction, sometimes by adduction and rotation of the limb, 
though, as a rule, the latter is impossible of accomplishment. In 
Banson’s case the procedure was to place a stable bracket or thick, round 
piece of wood between the horse’s thighs, thrusting it up as near the 
pubic region as possible, and by pressing strongly on the tibia to convert 
the limb into a lever of the first order, and so raise the displaced head of 
the femur, The operator, with his hand on the head of the bone, then 
directed the limh to be moved backwards or forwards with the object of 
bringing the head over the cotyloid cavity. In Banson’s case a sharp 
movement, accompanied by a loud “ click,” announced the return of the 
head to its proper position. The animal at once regained control of 
the limb. In smaller animals, like dogs, extension and counter-extension 
may be left to an assistant, whilst the operator, having taken note of the 
abnormal position of the caput femoris, effects reposition, 
After successful replacement, the horse should be slung to prevent it 
lying down, which might cause a relapse. Prolonged rest is absolutely 
necessary in all animals. 
As the anatomical relations of the femur to the pelvis differ somewhat 
in animals and men, the nomenclature and methods of reduction must 
vary correspondingly. The following classification seems the best « 
Luxation of the Femur. 
Forwards— 
Luxatio iliaca. 
Backwards— 
Luxatio ischiatica. 
In wards— 
(a) Luxatio pubica. 
(b) Luxatio obtura- 
toria. 
Outwards— 
Luxatio supra 
cotyloidea. 
The head of the 
femur lies on the 
ilium. 
The head of the femur 
lies below the ex¬ 
ternal branch of 
the ischium. 
(a) Pubic luxation. 
The head of the fe¬ 
mur lies under the 
transverse branch 
of the os pubis. 
The head of the fe¬ 
mur lies above the 
cup of the joint. 
Causes. —Forcible 
extension and rota¬ 
tion outwards (sup¬ 
ination). Most fre¬ 
quent in cows, though 
it occurs in horses. 
Produced by suddenly 
turning in the stall. 
Causes. —Forcible 
abduction and rota¬ 
tion inwards (prona¬ 
tion). Slipping out¬ 
wards of the joint. 
Commonest in cattle. 
Causes. —In oxen 
and horses, excessive 
abduction (Bassi, La- 
fosse), passing the 
leg over hanging 
bales and becoming 
caught, slipping, &c. 
(I>) Obturator luxa¬ 
tion . 
The head of the fe¬ 
mur lies in the ob¬ 
turator foramen. 
Causes. — Abnor¬ 
mal adduction move- 
ments. Blows, 
thrusts, falls. Com¬ 
monest in dogs. 
o 
