The prominent position occupied by the ulna predisposes it to fracture beyond that of some other bones of the extremities. The olecranon, which forms the point of the elbow, is more especially the seat of fracture in the horse. Here the breakage may occur deep down in the elbow-joint, or the summit of the olecranon may be broken away, leaving the joint intact. In whichever position the fracture may be, but little can be done to bring about reunion of the parts, and should it by any chance be effected in those cases where the joint is involved, the animal will always remain a cripple.

The causes which give rise to fracture of this bone are mainly kicks and blows, and on one occasion the writer has known it to occur in an animal while pulling up suddenly to avoid a collision when going at great speed.

Symptoms

In these cases the limb is brought forward with the knee in a semiflexed condition, and the elbow is depressed. Any attempt at progression is marked by considerable downward inclination of the fore-quarter on the injured side. This attitude results from the great triceps muscle having pulled the broken point of the elbow upward and ceased to give support to the limb, while the biceps and the mastoido-humeralis, having now nothing to antagonize their action behind, draw the limb forward beyond its natural limits.

The pain and distress caused by this mishap are always considerable, and progression is marked by great difficulty in bringing the leg into an upright weight-bearing position. When the elbow-joint is involved, the suffering is much increased, and general enlargement of the articulation soon appears.

Immediately after the accident the detached piece of bone can be felt to move, and the space dividing it from the other portion may be recognized, but owing to the upward displacement it is seldom that crepitation can be induced.

Treatment

Nothing can be done to bring the broken pieces together and maintain them in position, and there is little hope of any good resulting from treatment.

If it should be decided to do anything, we would advise the simple course of slinging, after the whole limb has been straightened and put into a starch bandage.