Symptomatology.—­Excepting in some cases of radial fracture of foals where considerable swelling has taken place, there is no difficulty in readily recognizing this condition.  The heavy brachial fascia materially contributes to the support of the radius, and in cases where swelling is marked, crepitation may not be readily detected.  In fact, a sub-periosteal fracture may exist for several days or a week or more and then, with subsequent fracture of the periosteum, crepitation and abnormal mobility of the member are to be recognized.  In such cases, the subject will bear some weight upon the affected member, but this causes much distress.  In one instance the author observed a transverse fracture of the lower third of the radius which was not positively diagnosed until about ten days after injury was inflicted.  In this case, without doubt, the subject originally suffered a sub-periosteal fracture of the bone and because the animal was a good self nurse, the brachial fascia supported the radius until the periosteum gave way and the leg dangled.  In this instance infection took place and suppuration resulted.  It was deemed advisable to destroy this animal.

Prognosis.—­In adult animals, radial fracture constitutes a grave condition; generally speaking, prognosis, in such cases, is unfavorable.  Because of the leverage afforded by the extremity, immobilization of the radius is difficult.  Any sort of mechanical appliance, which will immobilize these parts, is likely to produce pressure-necrosis of the soft structures so contacted.  There is occasioned thereby much pain and the subject becomes restive, unmanageable and sometimes the splints are completely deranged because of the animal’s struggles, and much additional injury to the leg is done.  Occasionally, an otherwise favorable case is thus rendered hopelessly impossible to handle, and the subject must be destroyed several days after treatment has been instituted.

Consequently, unless all conditions are good, and the affected animal a favorable subject, young, of good disposition, and the fracture a simple transverse one, complete recovery is not likely to result from any practical means of handling.

Treatment.—­Mature subjects ought to be put in slings and kept so restrained throughout the entire time of treatment.  Immobilization of the broken parts of the bone is the object sought.  This is attempted by practitioners who employ various methods, and each method has its advocates.

Casts are used by some and serve very well in many cases; but because of their bulk and unyielding and rigid nature, they are not well adapted to use on fractures of bones proximal to the carpus and tarsus.  This is in reference to plaster-of-paris casts or those of any similar material.

Appliances which depend on glue or other adhesive substances combined with leather, wood or fiber for their support, are efficacious but not comfortable.

The use of heavy leather when the member has been suitably padded with cotton and bandages, constitutes a very good manner of reducing fracture of the radius or of the tibia.  Leather when cut to fit both the medial and lateral sides of a leg, and firmly held with bandages, will form a firm support that yields slightly to changes of position, thus making for comfort of the subject.