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Updated: June 9, 2025
When an exostosis has developed puncture firing is the remedy par excellence. Not that this method of treatment is infallible, for to any thinking one who takes into consideration the pathological anatomy of this condition, it is evident that no manner of treatment is beneficial in some cases.
It follows, however, that splints occur in young animals; that the affection seldom starts in subjects that are ten years of age or older, and that when the exostosis has formed, lameness usually subsides. Anything which will cause undue strain or irritation of the metacarpal bones in young animals, is quite apt to result in a splint being formed.
Symptomatology. Where a visible exostosis exists, the presence of spavin is easily detected, yet exostoses that extend over large areas may constitute cause for serious trouble and still be difficult of detection.
It is noticeable that lameness is augmented or produced when the subject travels on rough road surfaces and that little or no difficulty is encountered when roads are smooth. Before there is a visible exostosis, supersensitiveness is readily recognized upon palpation of the parts, if careful comparison is made between the sound and unsound members.
Humphreys cites a most curious instance. The patient, it appears, had a large exostosis on the body of the pubes which, during parturition, was forced through the walls of the uterus and bladder, resulting in death. Kilian reports four cases of death from perforation of the uterus in this manner. Schauta pictures such an exostosis.
The "auto-cautery" when equipped with a point of about one-eighth of an inch in diameter and about three-fourths of an inch in length is well suited for this particular operation. Before deciding to cauterize, it is necessary to ascertain the extent of area affected. The nearness of the exostosis to the tibiotarsal articulation can be definitely determined by palpation.
An aged animal, having recently become very lame, showing a small exostosis on the first phalanx, and with the history given that the osseous deposit was of long standing, should at once lead the veterinarian to seek the source of trouble elsewhere. Visual Examination. As in all diagnostic work, a careful visual examination of the subject should be made before it is approached.
Where no exostosis is present it becomes necessary to exclude other causes for lameness but the characteristic spavin lameness is to be relied upon to a greater extent in such cases than are other means of examination. Such cases are known as occult spavin and may be present for months before any external changes in structure are observable.
The climatic conditions in some localities favor these occurrences but they may also be ascribed to improper food constituents and to possible infective agencies. Rarefying degenerative changes manifested by exostosis involving the phalanges of the young, causing ringbone, are fairly common in occurrence throughout this country.
The bursa may be derived from the synovial membrane of the adjacent joint with which its cavity sometimes communicates, or it may be of adventitious origin; when it is the seat of bursitis and becomes distended with fluid, it may mask the underlying exostosis, which then requires a radiogram for its demonstration. [Illustration: FIG.
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