Equine Sacropelvic pathology Flashcards
synovial component
cartilage
fibrous - extensive ligaments
sock shaped
SI joint
Si joint carries the energy
the hind end creates
coupling between the hindleg and the spine
SI joint
carries impulsion from hindlegs to rest of the body
SI joint
small amount of movement in the SI joint is essential for
normal back muscle balance and tension
performance problems from SI joint
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
behavior or medical problems of SI joint
holds tail to one side
hot or cold spots
local itchiness
dermatitis
body or tail rubbing
patchy sweating
SI joint causes of injury
stretching during fall
strain/tear from overexertion
poor posture
stretching during fall
cast in stall
birth trauma
strain/tear from overexertion
explosive racing start
chronic use
poor posture
saddle, rider
dental balance
hoof balance
58% of back problems
SI problems
60% of horses with SI problems
jumpers
dressage
taller, heavier than average and more than half were warmbloods
SI issues
effects of SI joint injury
torn/tight hamstrings
back muscle tears/strain
trauma can decrease stabiilty to the joint
fractured tuber c oxae - significant change in useful anatomy
human parallel to SI joint issues in horses
low back pain
groin pain
sciatica
TMJ pain
long healing process for SI joint
6-9 months for ligaments to heal
if not resolved completely, SI joint isssues remain
a weakness and potential source of continued pain
SI joint issues healing process make them very prone to
degenerative change - restricted mobility, joint pain, secondary tightening of back muscles
Diagnosis SI joint
palpation/physical exam
ultrasound
nuclear scintigraphy
palpation/physical exam of SI joint
very painful area
change in symmetry - boney alignment, muscle development
symmetry of gait
pelvis moves in
figure 8 fashion
strain of one side causes increased muscle tension of back muscles to protect
injured side therefore reducing swing of abdominal contents
compensation causes the opposing side to
increasingly mobile
compensatory damage leads to 2 stiff joints
reduced forward motion of the affected side
dragging of the opposite foot
higher relative tuber sacrale
SI joint
tears of tendinous attachments
hunters bump
hind leg lameness can cause symptoms similar to SI dysfunction
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
treatment SI joint
rest
rehabilitation
chiropractic
traditional treatment SI joint
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
rehabilitation SI joint
ground poles - cavaletti
hill work - diagonally across gentle slopes
chiropractic treatment SI joint
re-initiate normal muscle tension
restore normal movement of the SI joints
2-4 treatments every 7-14 days
goals of therapy for SI joint are
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
most mobile joint in the lumbar region
lumbo-sacral disease - thoracolumbar spine
anatomy changes SI joint
disc disease
articular facet disease - OA
ligament thickening/damage
ventral longitudinal ligament most common
causes of SI joint injury
trauma
strain/tear from overexertion
poor posture
clinical signs SI issues
muscle wasting/atrophy
ataxia
resistance to jump
resistance to work
intermittent or bilateral lameness
diagnosis SI
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
prognosis lumbosacral disease
depends on severity and type of work expected from the horse
cauda equina syndrome aka
polyneuritis equi
cauda equina syndrome
compression of cauda equina
clinical signs cauda equina syndrome
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
causes cauda equina syndrome
trauma - tail pulling, falls
vertebral osteomyelitis - infection
equine herpes EHV-1 myeloencephalitis
epidural neoplasia
caudal meningitis
sorghum/sudan grass toxicity
diagnosis cauda equina
physical exam - tail tone, anal tone, skin sensation
CSF analysis
nuclear scintigraphy
treatment cauda equina
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
