Equine Flash Notes - Lameness Review Flashcards
what is the number one site of lameness in horses & should be eliminated as a cause first?
foot
where are most lameness in the hindlimbs?
most below proximal tarsus - hock»_space;> stifle
why do most lamenesses in horses occur in the forelimbs?
forelimbs carry 60% of weight with most injuries
what does pointing of a forelimb in a lame horse mean?
resting a limb may indicate problems in that limb
T/F: it is normal for a horse to shift weight in its hindlimbs
true
what are the most common congenital causes of lameness in neonatal foals?
angular limb deformities, flexural deformities, rupture of common digital extensor, & cuboidal bone anomalies
what are the most common congenital causes of lameness in foals?
hematogenous septic arthritis, sesamoid fx, acquired angular limb deformities, physeal dysplasia, physeal fx, weak flexor tendons, & OCD
what are the most common congenital causes of lameness in yearlings?
sesamoid fx, OCD (fetlock, tarsus, & stifle), & physeal dysplasia
what are the most common congenital causes of lameness in 2-year-old horses in race training?
bucked shins!!!!!
splints, bowed tendons, carpal fx, & OCD
what are the most common congenital causes of lameness in old horses?
ossification of fat/cartilage & degenerative joint disease
what are the most common congenital causes of lameness in adult horses?
navicular disease, bone spavin, OA, carpal fx, splint bone fx, bowed tendons, traumatic septic arthritis, sesamoiditis, cortical fractures at MCIII, & idiopathic tenosynovitis
T/F: in horses, foot conformation is more important than limb conformation
true
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
base-narrow - distance between feet is less than the distance between the origin
ddx - articular windpuffs in fetlock, lateral sidebone, lateral ringbone & lateral heel bruises
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
base wide - distance between the feet is greater than the distance of the origin of the limbs
ddx - fetlock problems, medial sidebone, medial ringbone, & winging
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
pigeon toed/toed in - toes point in
ddx - congenital defect that may accompany crooked limbs & paddling
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
knocked knees/carpal valgus - lateral deviation distal to carpus
ddx - stress on medial collateral ligament in the carpus or angular limb deformity
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
splay-footed/toed out - toes point away from each other
ddx - congenital problem with twisting of limb or winging
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
bow legs/carpal varus - medial deviation distal to the carpus
ddx - increased stress on lateral collateral ligament & angular limb deformity
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
open knees - irregular carpal profile (side view), carpal joints appear not to be closed in young horses (1-3 years) that improves with age
ddx - physeal dysplasia (physitis) & carpal problems
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
benched knees/offset knees - lateral deviation of the metacarpal bones from the front view
medial splints
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
tied in knees - flexor tendons appear too close to the cannon bone in the lateral view
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
cut out under the knees - dorsal surface of cannon bone appears cut out just below the carpus at the lateral view
what is this stance called in horses? what may cause it?
standing under in front - elbow & distal limb behind line dropped from tuber spinae
shortened stride, stress on limb, & tendency to stumble
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
camped in front - elbow & distal limb in front of line dropped from tuber spinae
may be due to compensation to alleviate pain due to navicular disease or laminitis
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
base narrow - distance between feet is less than the center of the thighs
interference if good conformation in the front & strains to lateral structures of limb
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
base wide - distance between feet is greater than distance between center of thighs
most common form is cow hocked!!
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
cow hocked/tarsus valgus - medial deviation of hock joints, base narrow to hock & base wide from hock to hoof
bone spavin & may be accompanied by sickle hock
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
sickle hock/curby conformation - excessive angulation of hock joints at the lateral view
curb - strain on plantar aspect of hock
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
straight behind - excessively straight limbs at the lateral view
bog spavin & upward fixation of the patella
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
standing under behind - entire limb too far forward
what conformation defect is shown in this photo? what can cause it?
camped behind - entire limb placed too far caudally
what foot conformational defect is shown here? what can happen with it?
broken hoof pastern axes - low heel & long toe
heel bruising, navicular disease, hoof cracks, & interference
what foot conformational defect is shown here? what can happen with it?
coon footed - steep foot angle, low pastern angle
extensor process pedal bone, DJD of coffin joint, & pedal osteitis
what foot conformational defect is shown here? what can happen with it?
hoof imbalance - medial & lateral walls at unequal lengths
osselets (fetlock), ringbone (pastern), navicular disease, hoof cracks, & sheared heel
what foot conformational defect is shown here? what can happen with it?
long sloping pasterns - pastern bone long & pastern bone angle is normal/abnormal
tenosynovitis of the flexor tendons or sesamoiditis/sesamoid fractures, & desmitis of the suspensory ligament
what foot conformational defect is shown here? what can happen with it?
long upright pasterns - pastern too long & angle too steep
restoring the normal hoof angle results in a broken foot/pastern axis putting even more stress on the navicular bone
what are lamenesses are racehorses (thoroughbreds & quart horses) predisposed to?
carpal fractures, fetlock joint injuries, injuries to the suspensory ligaments/muscle tendons, sesamoid bone injuries, navicular disease, hock injuries, & foot injuries
what are lamenesses are hunter-jumpers predisposed to?
sacroiliac problems, back problems, desmitis of distal sesamoidean ligaments, & rupture of distal sesamoidean ligaments
what are lamenesses are steeple chasers predisposed to?
desmitis of distal sesamoidean ligament, fractures, sacroiliac subluxation, & back problems
what are lamenesses are standardbreds (trotters & pacers) predisposed to?
gluteal myositis, exertional myopathies, hock lameness, back soreness, carpal fractures, splints, tendinitis, back problems, & subluxation of sacroiliac joints
what are the very common foot conditions causing lameness in horses? what are the second most common?
very common - broken forward, bruised sole, hoof imbalance, laminitis, navicular disease, puncture wounds of foot, run under heels, & subsolar abscesses
common - abscesses of white line, brittle feet, conformational defects, contracted heels, coronary band injuries, hoof cracks, hoof lacerations, limb contracture, nail prick, pedal osteitis, synovitis of DIP joint, thrush, & traumatic heel wounds
what does heat in the coronary band indicate in horses?
laminitis
if a horse has diffuse sole sensitivity with hoof testers, what differentials should be considered?
laminitis, sagittal fx of distal phalanx, diffuse pododermatitis, & diffuse pedal osteitis
if a horse has localized sensitivity with hoof testers, what differentials should be considered?
sole bruises, corns, non-articular fx of distal phalanx, gravel, subsolar abscesses, puncture wounds, nail prick, heel crack
if a horse has sensitivity of the central frog with hoof testers, what differentials should be considered?
navicular disease, navicular bone fracture, navicular bursa infection, sheared heels, & puncture/abscess of frog
what are the most common lameness conditions in the pastern? what are the second most common?
sprains & synovitis
second most common - DJD, pastern dermatitis, septic tenosynovitis, & tendon laceration
what are the most common lameness conditions in the fetlock? what are the second most common?
arthritis (osselets), sprains, & synovitis
desmitis of the suspensory ligament branches, windpuffs, MC3 fx, proximal phalanx fx, suspensory apparatus rupture, sesamoid fx, & sesamoiditis
what are the most common lameness conditions in the metacarpus/metatarsus? what are the second most common?
bowed tendons, bucked shins, splints (exotosis of MC2 & MC4), & stocking up
acute tenosynovitis, cellulitis, windpuffs, laceration of tendon sheath, osteomyelitis, splint fx, & suspensory desmitis
what are the most common lameness conditions in the carpus? what are the second most common?
synovitis!!!!
carpal valgus, chip fx, hygroma, OA, physitis, septic arthritis, slab fx, & soft tissue damage
what are the most common lameness conditions in the forearm & arm?
capped elbow, humeral fx, radial nerve paralysis, & ulnar fx
T/F: chronic lameness in the hindlimb of horses is usually due to structures above the foot
true
what structures are most commonly involved in causing hindlimb lameness in horses?
hock is most common!!!
hip is least common
what is bog spavin?
fluid distension of the tarsocrural joint due to synovitis
what is bone spavin?
DJD of the distal intertarsal & tarsometatarsal joints
what is thoroughpin?
swelling due to synovitis or tenosynovitis of the tarsal sheath & tendon of the DDF at the tarsus
how do you differentiate thoroughpin from bog spavin?
distension doesn’t move to other parts of the hock by compression in thoroughpin
distension moves to other pouches with bog spavin
what is curb?
swelling at the plantar aspect of the calcaneus due to inflammation of the long plantar ligament
what is a capped hock?
swelling of the subcutaneous bursa over the point of the hock
what are the most common lameness conditions in the tarsus?
desmitis of long plantar ligament (curb), capped hock (hygroma), bog spavin, bone spavin, osteochondrosis, & sprains
what are the most common lameness conditions in the stifle?
collateral ligament sprain, DJD, gonitis (stifle lameness), infectious arthritis, OCD, soft tissue damage, & upward fixation of the patella
what are the most common lameness conditions in the thigh/hip/pelvis?
muscle strains & rhabdomyolysis
what are the most common lameness conditions in the back?
ill fitting saddle/poor riding, skin lesions, & temperament
