SA Orthopedics Flashcards
What are the signs for forelimb lameness?
head bob: down on the sound
abduction, adduction or circumdunction of the limb
Change in stride length/duration
What are the signs for hind limb lameness?
Hip hike on the affected leg
Abduction, adduction or circumduction of the limb
Shorter stride of affected leg
Faster stride on sound leg
Bunny hopping
What is the lameness scale for small animals?
0-4
What does grade 0 mean on the lameness scale?
Sound
What does grade 1 mean on the lameness scale?
mild weight bearing lameness
What does grade 2 mean on the lameness scale?
moderate weight bearing lameness
What does grade 3 mean on the lameness scale?
severe weight bearing to toe touching lameness
What does grade 4 mean on the lameness scale?
non weight bearing at all times
What are the steps to perform a complete orthopedic examination?
Examine for symmetry, equal weight distribution, joint effusion, pain, swelling, crepitus, palpate areas low on muscle mass, ROM, instability
What would you examine on long bone palpation?
Pain, swelling, crepitus
Palpate in areas of low muscle mass
What would you examine on joint palpation?
- Normal, pain free ROM
- Swelling, pain, & crepitus
- Instability (flexion/extension) (lateral/medial)
What would you examine on muscle palpation?
- Pain & swelling
- Atrophy/asymmetry
What would you examine on cervical spine, thoracolumbar spine, lumbosacral junction
palpation of lateral cervical
direct spinal palpation of dorsal spinous processes
Direct downward palpation tail manipulation & rectal palpation
What would you examine on phalangeal joints?
Nails, interdigital spaces, joint ROM, pain, thickening
What would you examine on carpus joints?
Palpation for effusion: joint space either side of the extensor tendons
Range of motion
Instability
Hyperextension injury
Palpation of the sesamoids
What would you examine on elbow joint?
Effusion: caudal in the joint, either side of the olecranon
Range of motion: carpus can almost touch shoulder
What would you examine on shoulder joint
-Superman: normal, keep elbow in flexion when flexing shoulder
-Medial stability
-Biceps tenosynovitis
-Muscle palpation: supraspinatus, infraspinatus
What would you examine on tarsus palpation?
- Effusion
- Range of motion
- Medial & lateral instability: long and short collaterals
- Superficial digital flexor tendon
- Calcaneal tendon: can tear causing hocks to touch the ground
What would you examine on stifle palpation?
- Tibial crest
- Fibular head
- Lateral fabella
- Patella
- Patellar tendon
What are the differential for lameness localizing to the carpus?
- Carpal hyperextension
- Traumatic hyperextension injury
What are the differential for lameness localizing to the elbow in a juvenile young animal?
Elbow dysplasia
fragmented medial coronoid process
osteochondrosis/osteochondritis dissecans
united anconeal process
incongruity
united medial epicondyle
Congenital luxation
What are the differential for lameness localizing to the elbow in a adult small animal?
- Incomplete ossification of the humeral condyle
- Flexor tendon enthesopathy
- Traumatic luxation
- Fracture
- Neoplasia
Describe the etiopathology, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of carpal hyperextension injury.
Trauma, injury to the palmar soft tissue structures
Radiographs
Treatment: conservative management (not rewarding), arthrodesis partial or pancarpal
80% achieve excellent limb function
Describe the etiopathology, diagnosis, treatment and outcome of elbow dysplasia.
Hereditary
radiographs
treatment is fragment removal, arthroscopy, proximal ulna segmental ostectomy
the earlier the intervention is better but depends on degree of joint damage already present
