Lameness of the Horse: Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1Lacroix, John Victor
Science
Lameness of the Horse: Veterinary Practitioners' Series, No. 1
Lacroix, John Victor
Horses -- Health; Lameness in horses
Prognosis and Treatment.--In the majority of instances, when
there is occasioned serious inconvenience, the outcome is not
likely to be favorable, according to Moeller. Detachment of a
portion of the thrombus, according to Hoare, may result in the
lodgment of an embolus in the brain or kidneys. The latter
authority also states that muscular atrophy may occur owing to lack
of blood supply in some of these cases. Moeller states that
moderate exercise or work stimulates the establishment of
collateral circulation. Massage per rectum is condemned as
dangerous by Cadiot.
Fracture of the Patella.
Etiology and Occurrence.--Patellar fractures are rarely met with in
the horse but may be caused by falls and heavy contusions. Violent
muscular contraction, it is said, may also bring about the same
condition.
Symptomatology.--Fracture may be transverse or vertical, and depending
on the manner in which the bone is broken, prognosis is either at once
rendered favorable or unfavorable. The patella performs a function which
is in a way similar to that of the sesamoids and when fractured,
complete recovery is improbable in the average instance. When complete,
transverse fractures permit of separation of the parts of bone. Tension
on the straight ligaments below and contraction of the quadriceps above
usually cause insuperable difficulty in the handling of this type of
fracture in the horse.
Compound fractures as well as multiple or comminuted fractures
occasionally occur and these constitute injuries which are generally
considered fatal, although Andrien, according to Cadiot and Almy,
succeeded in obtaining complete recovery in a case of compound fracture
of the patella and the horse was in service and almost free from
lameness two months after treatment was begun.
No difficulty is encountered in recognizing the fracture of the patella
because of the exposed position of the bone. Crepitation, and in some
cases fissures, may be easily detected.
Treatment.--In simple fracture, when treatment is thought advisable,
the subject is put in a sling and kept as nearly comfortable as
possible. If little inflammation exists, the application of a vesicant
two or three weeks after the injury has been inflicted will be helpful
and serve to hasten repair.
Bandages or mechanical appliances are of no practical use in the
handling of these cases.
Luxation of the Patella.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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