FRACTURES OF THE VERTEBRAE. 
465 
Vertebral fractures in oxen occur during coitus, fracture in the cow 
being caused by too heavy a bull, and in the bull by falling. Small 
animals may be run over, or violently kicked or struck. 
Luxation, that is displacement of the articular surfaces, and sub¬ 
luxation (displacement of the vertebra from rupture of the inter-vertebral 
ligaments), cannot clinically be distinguished from fracture. Voigtlander 
and Gillmeister saw subluxation between the last dorsal and first lumbar 
vertebrae in a cow, Thieme in a horse. 
Symptoms and course. Fractures of the vertebral processes produce 
no particular general disturbance. Swelling occurs at the spot, and may 
sometimes lead to pus formation ; while fracture in the region of the 
withers of the superior spinous processes, which give attachment to 
various muscles of the fore limb, greatly interfere with movement, as 
Bouley mentions in describing a case in the horse. The head and neck, 
and also the back and loins, were held stiffly as in tetanus ; the position 
of the fore feet suggested laminitis; swelling, pain, and crepitation 
existed in the region of the withers. The animal could not lie down for 
a month ; and although the ability to move gradually returned, yet for 
some time the feet were not properly lifted. 
Fractures of the body of a vertebra are generally followed by displace¬ 
ment of the broken fragments and injury to the spinal cord, or by bleeding 
into the vertebral canal, and paraplegia. The animal cannot rise, and 
even when able to move the fore limbs, has no control over the hind. 
Under some circumstances injury to the spinal cord is delayed, and it is 
certainly possible for vertebrae to be merely fissured. Many observers have 
seen cases where the animal could still move, though the back was held 
stiffly, and where symptoms of paraplegia only occurred after several days. 
Spinola saw an animal which could still carry its rider and could perform 
heavy work, though he believed it to be suffering from fissure of a vertebra. 
Straube describes a horse with a similar fissure, or fracture without dis¬ 
placement, which could nevertheless be hunted and jumped. In rare cases 
the animals can stand, but cannot move, as when the ischiatic nerve is 
paralysed and the crural escapes. Bomhachsaw this condition after fiactuie 
of the second lumbar vertebra ; Moller found functional activity of the 
crural retained after fracture of the fifteenth dorsal vertebra. 
Local examination gives negative results in large and well-nouiished 
horses. Crepitation, pain, or displacement of the superior spinous process 
of the affected vertebra can seldom be detected, except in small, thin 
animals with slight muscular development. Paraplegia is accompanied 
by anaesthesia of the hindquarters, sharply marginated in the lumbar 
region. Convulsive attacks have also been noticed. Correct diagnosis is the 
more important because prognosis is always unfavourable, and slaughtei 
must be recommended as soon as fracture of a vertebra is recognised. 
H H 
v.s. 
