Musculoskeletal Exams

Question 1

what questions should be asked when taking patient history for a musculoskeletal concern?

Answer 1

when did it start?
how quick was the onset?
describe how the pet is walking
does pet place each foot on the ground?

Question 2

muscle condition scoring

Answer 2

MCS 3= normal muscle mass
MCS 2= mild wasting
MCS 1= moderate wasting
MCS 0= severe wasting

Question 3

sarcopenia

Answer 3

muscle loss due to age

Question 4

cachaxia

Answer 4

muscle loss due to illness

Question 5

what areas are good to check MCS?

Answer 5

bony processes that don’t usually have a lot of fat covering
ilium wing, cranial processes, lumbar spinous processes

Question 6

muscle atrophy

Answer 6

common in older animals (sarcopenia)
check if it’s unilateral or bilateral

Question 7

what are the causes of muscle atrophy?

Answer 7

obesity, chronic disease, poor nutrition, illness (cachaxia)

Question 8

what are things to look for when checking limb symmetry?

Answer 8

is it focal or generalized?
symmetrical or asymmetrical?

Question 9

varsus

Answer 9

1 or more limbs deviate towards midline

Question 10

valgus

Answer 10

1 or more limbs deviate towards lateral

Question 11

osteochrondrodysplasia

Answer 11

long bone deformities where the bone and cartilage are shortened
form of dwarfism

Question 12

achondrodysplasia

Answer 12

shortened front limb bones
normal in some breeds: corgis, french bulldogs, etc

Question 13

chondrodysplasia

Answer 13

cartilage shortened

Question 14

gait

Answer 14

pattern of limb movements in which an animal moves
walk, trot, canter, gallop

Question 15

how do you observe lameness?

Answer 15

observe from the side, front, and behind while an animal is walking

Question 16

what does “down with the sound” mean in regards to lameness observations?

Answer 16

head will dip when having good front limb on the ground
takes more effort to lift lame limb

Question 17

what does “hip hike” mean in regards to lameness observations?

Answer 17

hindlimb hip of the lame side lifts up when walking

Question 18

ventroflexion

Answer 18

head goes towards chest when there is discomfort in spine
usually cervical spine issues
client will usually notice when dog eats and thinks they have an upset stomach or something
when cats do this is means there is an emergency situation: usually low potassium (hypocalemia)

Question 19

how do you perform limb exams?

Answer 19

palpate each limb individually but go back and compare each limb to the others
look for pain, swelling, increase/decrease in temp, crepitation, abnormal joint motion
examine painful limbs last
check all parts of limbs including toes and nails
use gentle slow approach
combine with neuro exam

Question 20

how do you test range of motions of the limbs?

Answer 20

put the animal in lateral recumbency
start distally and move up leg
carefully flex and extend each joint
observe for crepitation (crunching of bones)

Question 21

panniculus reflex

Answer 21

evaluation of spinal nerves
start at iliac crest and move up the patient’s back using slight downward pressure, patient’s skin should crawl or patient reacts to the feeling

Question 22

conscious proprioception reflex test

Answer 22

paw. replacement test
while supporting the patient’s body, flex a paw so dorsum of paw is placed on floor
patient should flip paw back over to normal position
can be absent, present, or delayed

Question 23

cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCL)

Answer 23

partial or complete torn cranial cruciate ligament
check if it’s unilateral or bilateral
“bunny hop” will hold up affected limb
if one knee is affected usually the other will go too within 1 year
CCL lameness walk= just toe touching ground of affected limb while walking