LA Ortho - Hindlimb Lameness Eq Flashcards
Upward patellar fixation
Effects young developing horses
Minis, ponies and donkeys
Intermittent UPF
Mild lameness, catching of patella during flexion
Severe lameness, self correcting
Permanent UPF
Severe lameness
Unable to manually correct
Pathophysiology of UPF
Difficulty or inability to release passive stay apparatus
Muscle development lagging behind skeletal growth
Quadriceps fem is under conditioned, unable to lift patella up/off medial trochlear ridge of femur to release stay app
Benefit of modified training for UPF
Long trot + hills can strengthen the quadriceps femoris muscle to assist in releasing the stay apparatus
Injection treatment for UPF
Inflammatory response causes thickening of ligament = tightening/preventing fixation
Surgery for UPF
MPL slipping Cutting holes in ligament to increased thickening
Medial patellar ligament splitting (Desmoplasty) Result is development of OA due to joint instability
Gait abnormalities include
String halt
Shivers
Fibrotic myopathy
Stringhalt
Also known as equine reflex hypertonia
Can be idiopathic or neurological from dandelions
Involuntary flexion of one or both hind limbs
Treatment & prognosis
Prevention of ingestion of dandelions
Lateral digital extensor myotenectomy
- guarded to favorable prognosis
Shivers
Neurological chronic neuromuscular disease
Gait abnormalities observed when backing
Trembling of thigh muscles/hind
Commonly found in draft horses
Treatment and prognosis for shivers
Due to the neurological nature there’s not treatment and prognosis is variable based on progression
Fibrotic myopathy
Traumatic etiology
Palpable fibrosis of Semitendinosus
Observed by jerked caudally before it hits the ground
Traumatic muscle injuries include
Ruptured gastrocnemius muscle
Ruptured peroneus tertius muscle
RGM
Could be partially or completely ruptured - some inability to fix stay apparatus
Acute lameness
Dropped hock
