Lameness Evaluation - Palmer

Question 1

Alteration of normal gait due to pain or mechanical dysfunction

Answer 1

Lameness

Question 2

3 main causes of Lameness

Answer 2

1. Pain: OS, fracture, tumor
2. Mechanical dysfunction: quadriceps contracture
3. Combination: patellar luxation

Question 3

A tightening or shortening of a muscle

Answer 3

Muscle contracture

Question 4

List the 6 steps of Lameness Evaluation

Answer 4

1. Signalment
2. Hx
3. Gait Observation
4. PE
5. Imaging
6. Invasive diagnostics

Question 5

What is the signalment

Answer 5

Age, breed/sp, gender

Question 6

DAMNITV DDx Categories

Answer 6

D: Degenerative*, Developmental+
A: Anomalous+, Autoimmune 
M: Metabolic 
N: Neoplastic*, Nutritional+ 
I: Inflammatory, Infectious, Immune, Idiopathic 
T: Traumatic, Toxic 
V: Vascular 

*: more common in mature animals
+: more common in immature animals

Question 7

No detectable lameness at any gait

Answer 7

Grade 0

Question 8

Barely perceptible lameness

Answer 8

Grade 1

Question 9

Mild or inconsistently apparent, WB lame

Answer 9

Grade 2

Question 10

Moderate, obviously apparent, WB lame

Answer 10

Grade 3

Question 11

Severe, predominantly WB lame

Answer 11

Grade 4

Question 12

Severe, predominantly, non-WB lame

Answer 12

Grade 5

Question 13

When you are observing patient’s gait… circling will stress the _____ limb

Answer 13

Inside

Question 14

When you are noting ‘head-bobbing’… down on ____, up on ____

Answer 14

Down on SOUND

Up on LAME

Question 15

Sense of limb position in space

Answer 15

Conscious proprioception

Question 16

Subluxation vs Luxation

Answer 16

Subluxation is a partial dislocation of a joint

Luxation occurs when there is an abnormal separation in the joint, where two or more bones meet

Question 17

What does the Ortolani Sign test for?

Answer 17

Hip Joint LAXITY
(not traumatic luxation)

Degree of Reduction - as hip is being abducted

Degree of Subluxation - as hip is being adducted

Question 18

The thumb pinch test is used to test for _______ hip ______, NOT hip joint ______

Answer 18

cranio-dorsal hip luxation

not hip joint laxity

Question 19

When performing the thumb pinch test, you place your thumb in the space between the _____ and the _____. The limb is then _______ rotated

Answer 19

GT and Tuber Ischii

Externally rotated

Question 20

The Triangle Test is used to test for _____ hip luxation

Answer 20

Craniodorsal

Question 21

What are the 3 landmarks used in the Triangle Test

Answer 21

GT, tuber ischii, and crest of ilium

Question 22

If you are doing the triangle test and cannot find the GT, what happened?

Answer 22

Ventral luxation - displaced ventrally and medially

Question 23

The _____ ______ Test is used to test for biceps tendinopathy

Answer 23

Biceps Traction Test

Question 24

When looking a hip rads, ___% of the head of the femur should be covered by the acetabulum

Answer 24

50%

Question 25

_______ –> synovial fluid analysis

Answer 25

Arthrocentesis