The principal difficulty which attends the use of braces is pressure-necrosis of the skin which is caused by the constant and firm contact of the metal support. The practitioner's ingenuity is taxed in every case to contrive practical means of padding the exposed parts in order to prevent or minimize necrosis from pressure. This is attempted—with more or less success—by frequent changing of bandages and the local application of such agents as alcohol or witch hazel. Needless to say, the skin must be kept perfectly clean and the dressings free from all irritating substances.
The fact that tendons or ligaments which are ruptured, do not regenerate as readily as in cases where traumatic or surgical division occurs, must not be lost sight of, and prognosis is given in accordance.
Thecitis and Bursitis in the Fetlock Region.
Etiology and Occurrence.—Synovial distension of tendon sheaths and bursae in the region of the fetlock are caused by the same active agencies which produce this condition in other parts. The fetlock region is exposed to more frequent injury than is the carpus and as a consequence is more often affected. The same proportionate amount of irritation affects this part of the leg, owing to strains, as affect the carpus from a similar cause; and synovitis from this cause, is as frequent in one case as in the other. Therefore, it is a natural sequence that the tendon sheaths of the metacarpophalangeal region are frequently distended because of chronic synovitis and thecitis. These inflammations are usually non-infective in character.
The cul-de-sac of the capsular ligament of the fetlock joint which extends upward between the bifurcation of the suspensory ligament is the most frequently affected structure in this region. When distended, two spheroidal masses bulge laterally and anterior to the flexor tendons in a characteristic manner. This condition is known among horsemen as "wind-gall" or "fetlock-gall."
The sheath of the flexor tendons, which begins about the middle portion of the lower third of the metacarpus, and continues downward below the pastern joint is often distended.
Excepting in cases of acute inflammation attending synovitis of these parts, no lameness marks its existence and in chronic cases of synovial distension the service of affected animals is not interfered with. These distensions constitute unsightly blemishes and they are treated chiefly for this reason.