Lecture 16: Disorders of Gait

Question 1

infraspinatus contracture

Answer 1

• seen in hunting + working dogs
• muscle disorder
• degeneration and atrophy of muscle fibers replaced by fibrous tissue (usually infraspinatus)
• history of sudden lameness
• lower limb externally rotated, elbow adducted, foot abducted

Question 2

coxofemoral luxation (hip dysplasia)

Answer 2

• usually result of trauma or extreme abduction of hip joint
• most common direction is craniodorsal to acetabulum
• limb appears shorter when looking at from behind
• thigh adducted, stifle rotated outwards, tarsus rotated inward

Question 3

medial patellar luxation

Answer 3

• often asymptomatic
• if severe, results in non-weight bearing lameness
• external rotation of hip
• bow-legged stance and gait

Question 4

calcanean tendon rupture

Answer 4

• usually from traumatic injury
• initial non-weight bearing lameness
• stifle extends and tarso-crural joint hyper flexes

Question 5

cranial cruciate ligament rupture

Answer 5

• most common orthopedic injury in dogs
• usually non-weight bearing rear limb lameness

Question 6

stringhalt

Answer 6

• involuntary and exaggerated flexion of one or both hind limbs
• during cranial phase of the stride, limb is jerked towards abdomen
• degree of flexion will be variable
  - most exaggerated cases kick their abdomen
  - mild cases can perform normal activities

Question 7

fibrotic myopathy

Answer 7

• mechanical gait results from an injury to the semitendinosus muscles that healed with a dense scar
• scarred, fibrotic tissue restricts the normal elastic property of the muscle, limiting the forward motion of the limb at the end of the stride
• slapping of foot to ground

Question 8

peroneus tertius rupture

Answer 8

• usually results from overextension of the tarsus w/ normal stifle flexion
• horse slips w/ hind limb extended backwards
• hind limb gets trapped and horse struggles to free it