Lameness of the Horse Part 18

When Dangerous to Inject.--Never inject a quittor in the acute stage. Never inject a quittor if considerable lameness is present.

On injecting a solution of formalin, hold cotton tightly around the nozzle of the syringe, when the plunger is down, then withdraw the syringe gently and note particularly if the fluid returns through the opening; if none returns cease operations at once, as it is dangerous to proceed farther, it indicates that the sinus is not well defined and the fluid retained will cause much trouble and often the death of the patient.

Experience has taught that, if extensive destructive changes of the foot exist, the Bayer operation is not indicated. In the country, where quittors are not so frequently met as in urban practice, the Merillat operation is preferable in all cases. However, the cost of the protracted period of idleness, which convalescent surgical patients require, renders the Hughes method more satisfactory in the hands of the general pract.i.tioner, especially in the city.

Nail Punctures.

Nail punctures, as herein considered, embrace all penetrant wounds of the solar surface of the horse's foot due to trampling upon street nails. This does not include accidental nail p.r.i.c.ks occasioned in shoeing. In city practice, in some stables, these cases are of frequent occurrence; and, generally speaking, nail punctures are observed more frequently in urban horses than in animals that are kept in the country.

Occurrence and Method of Examination.--This condition, then, is a rather common cause of lameness and in no case, where cause of the claudication is not obvious, is the pract.i.tioner warranted in concluding his examination without careful search for the possible existence of nail puncture of the solar surface of the foot.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 39--Skiagraph of foot. The X-ray offers very limited possibilities in the diagnosis of lameness. The location of a "gravel"

or a nail that had worked its way some distance from the surface, or of an abscess of some proportion, deep in the tissues, might be facilitated under some circ.u.mstances by the aid of the X-ray. Its use in the detention of fractures is very limited, owing to the difficulty encountered in getting a view from the right position--many trials being necessary in most cases. The case shown above was diagnosed clinically as incipient ringbone. The X-ray revealed no lesions. (Photo by L.

Griessmann.)]

In occasional instances there co-exists an obvious cause for supporting-leg-lameness and an occult cause--a nail puncture. Where such complications are met, the pract.i.tioner is not necessarily guilty of neglect or carelessness when the nail puncture is not discovered at once, nevertheless, an examination is not complete until practically every possible cause of lameness has been located or excluded in any given case.

In a search for nail puncture it is necessary to expose to view every portion of the sole and frog in such manner that the existence of the smallest possible wound will be revealed. This necessitates removal of the shoe, if, after a preliminary examination, a puncture is not found, when there is good reason to suspect its presence. However, where it is readily possible to locate and care for a wound without removal of the shoe, allowing the shoe to remain materially facilitates retaining dressings in position and relieves the solar surface of contact with the ground. If extensive injury or infection exists, it is of course necessary to remove the shoe and leave it off. By removing a superficial portion of all of the sole and frog, thus carefully and completely exposing to view all parts of the solar surface of the foot, and with the aid of hoof-testers one is enabled to positively determine the existence of nail punctures. Because of the tendency of puncture wounds of the foot to close, and since the superficial portion of the solar structures are usually soiled, it is absolutely necessary to conduct examinations of this kind in a thorough manner.

Symtomatology.--Not all cases of nail puncture cause lameness during the course of the disturbance and in many instances no lameness is manifested for some time after the injury has been inflicted--not until infection has been the means of causing considerable inflammation of sensitive structures. Nevertheless, this lack of manifestation occurs only in cases where serious injury has not taken place and the degree of lameness is a constant and reliable indicator of the character and extent of nail punctures within twenty-four hours after injury has been inflicted.

The position a.s.sumed by the affected animal inconstantly varies with the location and nature of the injury and is not of particular importance in establishing a diagnosis. The subject may support some weight with the affected member and stand "base-wide" or "base-narrow," or no weight may be borne with the foot or the animal may point or keep the extremity in a state of volar flexion. In cases where extensive injury has been inflicted, and great pain exists, the foot is kept off the ground much of the time and it may be swung back and forth as in all painful affections of the extremity.

Nail punctures cause typical supporting-leg-lameness and in some cases certain peculiarities of locomotory impediment are worthy of notice.

Punctures of the region of the heel, which directly affect or involve the deep tendon sheath, cause a type of lameness wherein pain is augmented, when dorsal flexion of the extremity occurs as well as when weight is borne. Wounds in the region of the toe of the hind feet sometimes cause the subject to carry the extremity considerably in advance of the point where it is planted and, just before placing the foot on the ground, it is carried backward a little way--ten or twelve inches.

However, diagnosis of nail puncture is based on the finding of the characteristic wound or resultant local changes.

Course and Prognosis.--The nature of the progress and the manner of termination of these cases are variable. If the coffin joint has been invaded, and a septic arthritis exists, the condition is at once grave.

An open and infected tendon sheath, while not so serious, const.i.tutes a condition which is distressing, and recovery is slow even under the most favorable conditions. Where a heavy, rigid and sharp nail enters the foot, in such manner that fracture of the third phalanx (os pedis) occurs, this complication makes for a protraction of the condition.

Experience teaches that the natural course and termination in these cases are modified by the location and depth of the injury, virulency of the contagium and resistance of the subject to such infection.

Prevention.--In all horses which are kept at such work that exposure to nail punctures is frequent, a practical means of prevention of such injuries consists in the employment of heavy sole leather or suitable sheet metal to cover the sole of the foot and, at the same time, confine oak.u.m and tar in contact with the solar surface to prevent the introduction of foreign material between the foot and such protecting appliances. Further, if drivers and owners could be impressed with the serious complications which so frequently attend wounds of this kind, undoubtedly many cases which are now lost, because of ignorance or neglect on the part of the teamsters or proprietors of horses, would be saved by prompt and rational treatment.

Treatment.--The treatment of this condition falls so largely within the dominion of surgery that we can give little more than an outline here.

In cases where there exists no evidence of open joint or open tendon sheath as judged by the site of the puncture and degree of lameness present (after having thoroughly cleansed the solar surface of the foot and enlarged the opening in the nonsensitive sole) a little phenol is introduced into the wound. In such cases, where it is possible for the antiseptic to contact every part of wound surface to the extreme depths of the puncture, infection is prevented when such treatment is promptly administered. This may be considered as first aid, or emergency care, and is indicated in all wounds of the foot whether the injury be serious or almost insignificant.

Subsequently one of two general courses may be pursued in the treatment of cases of nail puncture. One, by the employment of means to keep the wound patent and injection of suitable antiseptics, or agents that are more or less caustic in conjunction with strict observance of asepsis and wound protection. The other method consists in prompt establishment of drainage by surgical means and includes exploration and curettage.

The first method is better adapted to the use of the average general pract.i.tioner and he would do well to keep the opening in the nonsensitive structures patent. By introducing equal parts of tincture of iodin and glycerin daily, good results will follow in most instances.

The wound is protected in unshod horses, either by completely bandaging the foot and retaining, in contact with the wound, cotton that is saturated with iodin and glycerin, or, if a minor injury exists, the moderately enlarged opening in the nonsensitive sole or frog, which has been moistened with the antiseptic, is packed with a very small quant.i.ty of cotton. A little practice in this mode of closing benign puncture wounds will enable the pract.i.tioner to successfully protect the sensitive parts in the treatment of such cases in unshod country horses.

When the condition progresses favorably the wound may be dressed every second day or twice weekly, and in the course of from two to six weeks recovery should be complete.

If the pract.i.tioner is somewhat proficient as a surgeon, and has at his command facilities for doing surgery, the second method is preferable in many cases. By using a local anesthetic on the plantar nerves and confining the subject on an operating table, restraint should be perfect. The solar surface of the foot is first thoroughly cleansed, the puncture wound is enlarged in the nonsensitive structures and the parts are then moistened with phenol or other suitable antiseptics. By means of a small probe the puncture is explored and, depending on the character of the wound and the structures involved, surgical intervention is varied to suit the case. If necessary, all of the insensitive frog is removed, and in wounds affecting the region of the heel the tissues may be incised from the puncture outward dividing all of the tissues outward and backward to the surface. A suitable surgical dressing is then applied.

If, on the other hand, the puncture extends into the navicular bursa, the radical operation is perhaps indicated, though not until one is sure that infection of the bursa and serious consequences are to follow if this operation is not performed. Detailed description of the technic of this operation belongs to the realm of surgery and a good discussion of it is to be found in William's work on veterinary surgical and obstetrical operations.

One may summarize the discussion of treatment of nail puncture by saying that emergency care as herein described is of first consideration. In every case an immunizing dose of anti-tetanic serum should be given.

Subsequently, the method employed must suit the character of the wound, existing facilities for handling the subject and the skill and apt.i.tude of the pract.i.tioner.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 5: Manual of Veterinary Physiology, by Major-General F. Smith, page 590.]

[Footnote 6: Manual of Veterinary Physiology by Major-General F. Smith, page 589.]

[Footnote 7: Regional Veterinary Surgery and Operative Technique, Jno.

A.W. Dollar, M.R.C.V.S., F.R.S.E., M.R.I., page 765.]

[Footnote 8: Dr. Roscoe R. Bell in the Proceedings, N.Y. State Veterinary Medical Society, 1899.]

[Footnote 9: American Veterinary Review, Vol. 35, P. 456.]

[Footnote 10: "Radial Paralysis and Its Treatment by Mechanical Fixation of Knee and Ankle," Geo. H. Berns, D.V.S. Proceedings of the American Veterinary Medical a.s.sociation, 1912, p. 219.]

[Footnote 11: As quoted by Berns, in Radial Paralysis, etc., Proceedings of the A.V.M.A., 1912.]

[Footnote 12: Veterinary Surgical Operations, by L.A. Merillat, V.S., p.

507.]

[Footnote 13: A paper presented before the Illinois Veterinary Medical a.s.sn. by Dr. H. Thompson of Paxton, Ill., American Veterinary Review, Vol. 15, p. 134.]

[Footnote 14: "Fractures in Foals," by Dr. Wilfred Walters, M.R.C.V.S., American Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 8, p. 669.]

[Footnote 15: American Veterinary Review, Vol. 26, p. 1068.]

[Footnote 16: Fractures, by H. Thompson, Paxton, Ill., American Veterinary Review, Vol. 15, p. 134.]

[Footnote 17: Veterinary Surgical Operations, by L.A. Merillat, Vol. 3, p. 198.]

[Footnote 18: Wilfred Walters, American Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 8, p. 606.]

[Footnote 19: J.N. Frost, a.s.sistant professor of Surgery, Veterinary Dept., Cornell University, in "Wound Treatment," page 159.]

[Footnote 20: Open Joints and Their Treatment in my practice, by J.V.

Lacroix, American Journal of Veterinary Medicine, Vol. 5, page 203.]

[Footnote 21: Regional Veterinary Surgery Moller--Dollar, page 605.]

[Footnote 22: Extract from Receuil de Medecine Veterinaire in Ameircan Veterinary Review, Vol. 23, p. 893.]

[Footnote 23: Fracture of All the Sesamoid Bones, by R.F. Frost, M.R.C.V.S., A.V.D., Rangoon, Burmah, in American Veterinary Review, Vol.

5, p. 362.]

[Footnote 24: The Anatomy of the Domestic Animal, by Septimus Sisson, S.B., V.S.]