616 
RING-BONE, 
to recurrent sensibility, or to mechanical interference by bony growths with 
the play of the joints. The horse should be rested for several weeks and 
closely watched, in order to note any possible signs of degeneration in 
the tendons or inflammatory changes in the foot. Neurectomy should 
never be performed during the existence of local inflammation in or near 
the foot, and it is best only to remove § to J an inch of the nerve so as 
to permit of sensibility gradually returning after an interval of several 
months. The object of the operation, in fact, should not be to per¬ 
manently destroy sensation, but only to remove it for a sufficient time 
to allow chronic inflammatory processes to subside and to render the 
animal useful during this interval. 
Nocard has shown that the uprightness of the foot often diminishes 
and the size of the bony growths becomes less after plantar neurectomy. 
MEDIAN NEUBECTOMY . 1 
The operation of median neurectomy is as follows :— 
The median nerve is readily discovered on the inner surface of the 
fore arm, running obliquely downwards and slightly backwards just 
behind a ridge on the head of the radius, into which is inserted the 
internal lateral ligament of the elbow. It crosses the posterial radial 
artery at a very acute angle, and passes with it towards the posterior 
surface of the radius. The posterior radial vein (or veins) is situated in 
front of the nerve. The operation is performed (under general or local 
anaesthesia) opposite the lower portion of the elbow-joint, or immediately 
behind the upper extremity of the radius towards the upper point in the 
depression between the radius and the flexor muscles of the fore limb. 
I he skin having been shaven and disinfected, the limb is drawn well 
foiwaid and an incision about an inch m length is made, traversing 
successively the skin, subcutaneous connective tissue, and the prolonga¬ 
tion of the posterior superficial pectoral muscle. Any bleeding vessels 
are carefully twisted or closed with Wells’ forceps, and the seat of opera¬ 
tion is cleared of blood. The operator then assures himself by palpation 
that the nerve lies in or near the middle of the incision. Should this 
not be the case, the limb is moved slightly to and fro until the nerve is 
brought into the desired position. Towards the lower angle of the 
wound the fascia of the fore arm is slightly incised, a grooved director 
passed under it and pushed upwards, parallel with the nerve. By passing 
the bistoury along the groove the fascia is then laid open. Another 
method consists in using a probe-pointed bistoury. Certain operators 
even go so far as to snip away with scissors an elliptical fragment of 
1 For fuller details of complications after median and ulnar neurectomy see p. 447 of 
Cadiot and Dollars “Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Surgery.” 
