Musculoskeletal disease p2

Question 1

T/F: 70% of lameness is somewhere in the distal limb

Answer 1

True!

Question 2

T/F: Puncture wounds are the least common cause of acute lameness

Answer 2

False! This is a very common cause of acute lameness

Question 3

T/F: Laminitis is a fairly common cause of acute lameness in overweight horses

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Puncture wounds are evaluated by prognosis:
Outside frog = ___
Inside frog = ___

Answer 4

Outside = Excellent!
Inside = Poor :(

Question 5

Puncture wounds inside the frog may require ___ drainage. Outside frog needs drainage, ___, ____s, & ABXs.
These injuries can turn into ___ abscesses and can cause severe ____. The required drainage is preferable through the ___ of the foot.
___ vaccine is needed for all patients with this!

Answer 5

1. Surgical
2. NSAIDs, Bandage
3. Subsolar
4. Lameness
5. Sole
6. Tetanus vaccine

Question 6

Laminitis
1. Etiology
2. Symptoms (3)

Answer 6

1. Inflammation of the connection between the sensitive & insensitive laminae.
2. Symptoms:
   - Significant lameness
   - Characteristic stance
   - Increased digital pulses

Question 7

Laminitis
1. Causes (6)
2. Tx (5)

Answer 7

1. Causes:
   - Anything causing vasculitis
   - Grain overload
   - Obesity
   - Severe diarrhea
   - Infections elsewhere
   - Weight overload
2. Tx
   - Rest
   - NSAIDs
   - Pad feet
   - Corrective shoeing
   - Diet change

Question 8

T/F: Laminitis is usually in the front feet and if severe can cause disconnection of the bone from the hoof capsule & rotation

Answer 8

True! This is due to the strength of the DDF tendon

Question 9

T/F: Navicular syndrome is a fairly uncommon cause of low grade or chronic lameness in younger performance horses

Answer 9

False. This is a fairly common disease in young performance horses

Question 10

Navicular Syndrome
1. Etiology
2. Causes (2)

Answer 10

1. A chronic/progressive inflammation of the navicular bursa &/or degeneration of the cartilage &/or associated tendonitis or the DDF in the navicular area.
2. Causes:
   - Concussion
   - Disrupted blood flow

Question 11

Navicular Syndrome
1. Diagnosis (3)
2. Tx (4)

Answer 11

1. Dx
   - Rads
   - Nerve blocks
   - Hoof testers
2. Tx
   - Surgery
   - NSAIDs
   - Therapeutic shoeing, special shoeing
   - Exercise plan

Question 12

Subsolar Bruising
1. Etiology
2. Symptoms (3)
3. Causes (4)

Answer 12

1. Trauma to the sole with subsequent hemorrhage between the sensitive & insensitive soles. Often bilateral.
2. Symptoms
   - Acute lameness
   - Chronic low-grade lameness
   - Sole pain
3. Causes
   - Exercise on hard ground
   - Thin, flat soles
   - Coffin bone rotation
   - Not wearing shoes

Question 13

Subsolar Bruising
1. Diagnosis (2)
2. Treatment (2)

Answer 13

1. Dx
   - Paring sole & finding discoloration (& no abscess)
   - Sole pain with hoof testers
2. Tx
   - NSAIDs
   - Soft surfaces until healed

Question 14

Thrush
1. Etiology
2. Cause (2)
3. Symptoms (3)

Answer 14

1. Bacterial infection of sulci of frog
2. Causes
   - Dirty, wet conditions
   - Inadequate hoof care
3. Symptoms
   - Foul smell
   - Black discharge in frog sulci
   - Severe: lameness

Question 15

Thrush
1. Diagnosis (2)
2. Treatment (2)
3. Prevention (3)

Answer 15

1. Dx
   - Exam
   - Characteristic appearance & smell
2. Tx
   - Remove debris & necrotic tissue
   - Topical astringents (ie koppertox, iodine, etc)
3. Prevention:
   - Removal of manure
   - Keeping out of mud
   - Clean feet daily

Question 16

White Line Disease
1. Etiology
2. Cause (3)
3. Treatment (1)

Answer 16

1. Infection trapped in the “white line” laminae.
2. Causes
   - Puncture wounds
   - Poor conditions
   - Debris in foot
3. Tx
   - May req hoof wall resection to get at tissue & treat

Question 17

“Side Bone” - Calcification of the lateral cartilages
1. Etiology
2. Cause (1)
3. Symptoms (2)
4. Diagnosis (2)
5. Treatment (3)

Answer 17

1. Normal cartilage on either side of the coffin bone becomes calcified.
2. Cause
   - Direct trauma to the foot
3. Symptoms
   - Lameness
   - Bulge near coronary band
4. Dx
   - Radiographs
   - Bulge near coronary band
5. Tx
   - NSAIDs
   - Rest
   - Bar shoes

Question 18

T/F: “Side bone” (calcification of the lat cartilages) is most often in the rear feet of older horses

Answer 18

False! It’s most often in the FRONT feet

Question 19

Ring Bone
1. Etiology
2. Causes (3)

Answer 19

1. Osteoarthritis of interphalangeal joints
2. Causes
   - Wear & tear
   - After injury
   - Chip fractures

Question 20

Ring Bone - Osteoarthritis of interphalangeal joints
1. Diagnosis (5)
2. Treatment (6)

Answer 20

1. Dx
   - Hx
   - Lameness exam
   - Nerve blocks
   - Intra-articular blocks
   - Rads
2. Tx
   - Controlled exercise program
   - NSAIDs
   - Intra-articular inj of steroids
   - Joint supplements
   - Corrective shoeing
   - Sx arthrodesis

Question 21

T/F: Sesamoid Fractures/Osteitis is the #1 cause of racetrack deaths

Answer 21

True

Question 22

Sesamoid Fractures/Osteitis
1. Causes (2)
2. Symptom (1)
3. Diagnosis (2)
4. Treatment (3)

Answer 22

1. Causes
   - Stress injury
   - Trauma
2. Grade 5/5 severe lameness
3. Dx
   - Severe pain
   - Rads
4. Tx
   - Cast
   - Sx repair
   - Euthanasia

Question 23

Bucked Shins
1. Etiology
2. Causes (1)
3. Symptoms (2)

Answer 23

1. Periosteal reaction of the dorsal aspect of the third metacarpal bone.
2. Cause is strong repeated concussion of the dorsal aspect of the bone before bone has a chance to remodel appropriately.
   - “Too much too soon”
3. Symptoms
   - Acutely lame
   - Warm swelling of metacarpal area

Question 24

Bucked Shins
1. Diagnosis (1)
2. Treatment (3)

Answer 24

1. Dx
   - Rads
2. Tx
   - Rest
   - Controlled exercise program
   - NSAIDs