Equine Musculoskeletal

Question 1

What types of large animal bone diseases are rare?

Answer 1

Immune mediated disorders - rare

Neoplasia - very rare

Acute injury, chronic repetetive stress or trauma, DJD, infection, iatrogenic, and metabolic derangements are all common diseases.

Question 2

What are the 4 views commonly taken of equine joints?

Answer 2

Lateromedial

Dorsopalmar

DMPLO

DLPMO

Question 3

Where should the marker be placed on equine musculoskeletal views?

Answer 3

Place dorsal on lateromedial view.

Place lateral on all other views.

Question 4

What joint is the most commonly affected joint in horses with hindlimb lameness?

Answer 4

Tarsus

Question 5

What are the two most common locations for osteochondrosis?

Answer 5

1. Tarsocrural joint (often bilateral)
2. Lateral trochlear ridge of the talus (medial is also common)

Question 6

What is the best view to see the DIRT?

Answer 6

1. DMPLO
2. Fragments can be seen on lateromedial view if they are present

Question 7

What is the most common cause of lameness of the tarsus?

Answer 7

Bone Spavin aka DJD of the tarsus

Question 8

What is the most common finding in Bone Spavin (DJD of the tarsus)?

Answer 8

• Perivascular osteophyte formation is most common finding
• may also see subchondral bone lysis and narrowing of joint space in advanced disease
• may progress to sclerosis and eventual ankyloses

Question 9

T/F - The degree of change seen with Bone Spavin correlates with severity of clinical signs.

Answer 9

NOPE FALSE

Question 10

What is this?

Answer 10

Bone Spavin aka DJD of the Tarsus

• see osteophyte formation?

Question 11

Laminitis - detected or not detected?

Answer 11

Detected! You know because there is also moderate rotation and you never ever get rotation without laminitis.

Question 12

What is this?

Answer 12

Septic osteitis of the coffin joint - increased synovial mass, marked lysis of adjacent bone, amorphous periosteal reaction, soft tissue swelling, and subluxation of coffin bone.

Question 13

What is this?

Answer 13

Sequestrum

Question 14

What is this?

Answer 14

Splints - periosteal reaction and possibly synostosis of metacarpal or metatarsal bones.

Question 15

What are the signs of navicular degeneration?

Answer 15

1. enthesophytes
2. remodeling
3. synovial invaginations
4. cortical erosion
5. radiolucent cysts
6. sclerosis (loss of corticomedullary distinction)