Equine Sacropelvic pathology

Question 1

synovial component

cartilage

fibrous - extensive ligaments

sock shaped

Answer 1

SI joint

Question 2

Si joint carries the energy

Answer 2

the hind end creates

Question 3

coupling between the hindleg and the spine

Answer 3

SI joint

Question 4

carries impulsion from hindlegs to rest of the body

Answer 4

SI joint

Question 5

small amount of movement in the SI joint is essential for

Answer 5

normal back muscle balance and tension

Question 6

performance problems from SI joint

Answer 6

affects horse’s mental capacity to control their lower back and hind legs

disunited canter

poor lead changes

won’t pick up the correct lead

leg interference

Question 7

behavior or medical problems of SI joint

Answer 7

holds tail to one side

hot or cold spots

local itchiness

dermatitis

body or tail rubbing

patchy sweating

Question 8

SI joint causes of injury

Answer 8

stretching during fall

strain/tear from overexertion

poor posture

Question 9

stretching during fall

Answer 9

cast in stall

birth trauma

Question 10

strain/tear from overexertion

Answer 10

explosive racing start

chronic use

Question 11

poor posture

Answer 11

saddle, rider

dental balance

hoof balance

Question 12

58% of back problems

Answer 12

SI problems

Question 13

60% of horses with SI problems

Answer 13

jumpers

dressage

Question 14

taller, heavier than average and more than half were warmbloods

Answer 14

SI issues

Question 15

effects of SI joint injury

Answer 15

torn/tight hamstrings

back muscle tears/strain

trauma can decrease stabiilty to the joint

fractured tuber c oxae - significant change in useful anatomy

Question 16

human parallel to SI joint issues in horses

Answer 16

low back pain
groin pain
sciatica
TMJ pain

Question 17

long healing process for SI joint

Answer 17

6-9 months for ligaments to heal

Question 18

if not resolved completely, SI joint isssues remain

Answer 18

a weakness and potential source of continued pain

Question 19

SI joint issues healing process make them very prone to

Answer 19

degenerative change - restricted mobility, joint pain, secondary tightening of back muscles

Question 20

Diagnosis SI joint

Answer 20

palpation/physical exam

ultrasound

nuclear scintigraphy

Question 21

palpation/physical exam of SI joint

Answer 21

very painful area

change in symmetry - boney alignment, muscle development

symmetry of gait

Question 22

pelvis moves in

Answer 22

figure 8 fashion

Question 23

strain of one side causes increased muscle tension of back muscles to protect

Answer 23

injured side therefore reducing swing of abdominal contents

Question 24

compensation causes the opposing side to

Answer 24

increasingly mobile

compensatory damage leads to 2 stiff joints

Question 25

reduced forward motion of the affected side

Answer 25

dragging of the opposite foot

Question 26

higher relative tuber sacrale

Answer 26

SI joint

Question 27

tears of tendinous attachments

Answer 27

hunters bump

Question 28

hind leg lameness can cause symptoms similar to SI dysfunction

Answer 28

sore in SI

25% of horses also had lameness in front or hind limb

25% had arthritis or other problems somewhere else in the spine

Question 29

treatment SI joint

Answer 29

rest
rehabilitation
chiropractic

Question 30

traditional treatment SI joint

Answer 30

rest - slow return to activity - 2-16 weeks back to normal work depending on work load pre-injury

anti-inflammatories

pentosan sulfate

cortisone injections around and in the joint

Question 31

rehabilitation SI joint

Answer 31

ground poles - cavaletti

hill work - diagonally across gentle slopes

Question 32

chiropractic treatment SI joint

Answer 32

re-initiate normal muscle tension

restore normal movement of the SI joints

2-4 treatments every 7-14 days

Question 33

goals of therapy for SI joint are

Answer 33

to restore the function of the lower back, hind legs, and SI joints - may not change height of the pelvis tips, may never go back to normal

Question 34

most mobile joint in the lumbar region

Answer 34

lumbo-sacral disease - thoracolumbar spine

Question 35

anatomy changes SI joint

Answer 35

disc disease

articular facet disease - OA

ligament thickening/damage

ventral longitudinal ligament most common

Question 36

causes of SI joint injury

Answer 36

trauma

strain/tear from overexertion

poor posture

Question 37

clinical signs SI issues

Answer 37

muscle wasting/atrophy

ataxia

resistance to jump

resistance to work

intermittent or bilateral lameness

Question 38

diagnosis SI

Answer 38

physical exam - palpable pain, assymetry of muscles, corn cob movement (look like have corn up their butt), jabbign hind legs into ground, bilateral lameness

rectal examination

US

nuclear scintigraphy

Question 39

prognosis lumbosacral disease

Answer 39

depends on severity and type of work expected from the horse

Question 40

cauda equina syndrome aka

Answer 40

polyneuritis equi

Question 41

cauda equina syndrome

Answer 41

compression of cauda equina

Question 42

clinical signs cauda equina syndrome

Answer 42

tail paralysis/weakness

anal hypotonia/atonia (poor or no muscle tone)

rectal and bladder paralysis/weakness

relaxation and protrusion of the penis

muscle atrophy of the coccygeal muscles

usually no ataxia unless the injury is far forward affecting the LS nerve roots

Question 43

causes cauda equina syndrome

Answer 43

trauma - tail pulling, falls

vertebral osteomyelitis - infection

equine herpes EHV-1 myeloencephalitis

epidural neoplasia

caudal meningitis

sorghum/sudan grass toxicity

Question 44

diagnosis cauda equina

Answer 44

physical exam - tail tone, anal tone, skin sensation

CSF analysis

nuclear scintigraphy

Question 45

treatment cauda equina

Answer 45

underlying cause

anti-inflammatories

nursing care - managing symptoms

prognosis depends on cause

chiro care success depends on the cause - improving joint function will result in improved nerve conduction