SA Musculotendinous and Ligamentous Conditions

Question 1

What are ligament injuries known as?

Answer 1

Sprains

Question 2

What are the three types of ligament injuries?

Answer 2

Type 1 - minimal tearing with some haemorrhage
Type 2 - partial tearing and stretching of fibres with haemorrhage
Type 3 - complete rupture or avulsion of attachment

Question 3

What is the difference between valgus and varus of a limb?

Answer 3

Valgus - distal part deviates laterally
Varus - distal part deviates medially

Question 4

List three types of treatment to collateral ligment injuries

Answer 4

Conservative management
Collateral ligament repair
Avulsion fracture

Question 5

How would you treat a degloving/shearing open ligament injury?

Answer 5

Open wound management
Provide stabilisation
Collateral instability
Severe injury
Amputate
Salvage

Question 6

Which breeds are predisposed to rupture of plantar/palmar ligaments?

Answer 6

Shetland sheepdog/collie

Question 7

What are the main clinical signs of the rupture of plantar/palmar ligaments?

Answer 7

Plantigrade/palmigrade stance, lameness

Question 8

What is the treatment of choice of the rupture of plantar/palmar ligaments?

Answer 8

Arthrodesis - partial or pan

Question 9

What is the difference between a luxation and subluxation?

Answer 9

A luxation is a completes dislocation of a joint, a subluxation can be defined as a partial dislocation of a joint

Question 10

Define ‘salvage procedure’

Answer 10

An operation that allows continuance of function of an animal without preservation of normal anatomy

Question 11

Give four examples of salvage procedures

Answer 11

Arthrodesis
Amputation
Excision arthroplasty
Prosthetic surgery

Question 12

What are the four surgical principles of arthrodesis?

Answer 12

Debride - debridement/remove cartilage
Angle - stabilisation at an appropriate angle for the joint
Graft - placement of cancellous bone graft
Immobilise - immobilisation of affected joint, preferably under compression

Question 13

List three joints that cannot be arthrodesed.

Answer 13

Elbow
Stifle
Hip

Question 14

List the three amputation levels possible for the thoracic limb and state which is the most commonly used.

Answer 14

Disarticulate shoulder
Proximal humerus
Remove whole limb plus scapula - MOST COMMON

Question 15

List the three amputation levels possible for the pelvic limb and state which is the most commonly used.

Answer 15

Disarticulate hip
Proximal femur
Hemipelvectomy

Question 16

What are tendon injuries called?

Answer 16

Strains

Question 17

List four tendon characteristics that influence healing and repair

Answer 17

Avascular - poor blood supply, long healing time
Orientation of fibres - parallel to direction of strain
Scar adhesion formation - weak points that may interfere with function
Muscle contraction - complicates reapposition particularly with chronic injury

Question 18

Which suture patterns do you need to use for tendons and why? Name three.

Answer 18

Suture patterns need to compensate for the longitudinal orientation of the collagen fibres by having horizontal components to maintain apposition.
Three loop pulley
Bunnell’s suture
Locking loop

Question 19

What is the aetiopathogenesis of musculotendinous disruptions?

Answer 19

Sharp cut - laceration with skin injury
Rupture - closed injury
Avulsion - tendon attached to piece of bone that fractures off main bone

Question 20

What are the clinical signs of a musculotendinous avulsion fracture?

Answer 20

Lameness and plantigrade stance
Claw foot

Question 21

What is the pathogenesis of musculotendinous contracture?

Answer 21

Fibrosis of muscle secondary to ischaemia/inflammation

Question 22

What is the treatment of musculotendinous contracture?

Answer 22

Resect fibrosed muscle
Cut tendon/tenectomy
Release contracted muscle and lengthen it

Question 23

What is the aetiopathogenesis of musculotendinous displacement?

Answer 23

Trauma and rupture of the retinaculum
Tendonitis and inflammation of the tendon
Conformational abnormalities

Question 24

What is the aetiopathogenesis of musculotendinous displacement?

Answer 24

Trauma and rupture of the retinaculum
Tendonitis and inflammation of the tendon
Conformational abnormalities