Tarsus

Question 1

What is a capped hock?

Answer 1

Acquired bursa between SDFT and skin

Question 2

What is bog spavin?

Answer 2

OCD of distal intermediate ridge of tibia

Question 3

What horses are usually affected by bog spavin (OCD of tibia)?

Answer 3

Young horses (6 mo - 3 yr)

Question 4

A 1 year old horse presents with effusion of the tarsocrural joint and lameness with no history of trauma. What is your likely diagnosis?

Answer 4

Bog spavin 
(OCD of distal intermediate ridge of tibia)

Question 5

What is the treatment for bog spavin (OCD of tibia)?

Answer 5

Arthroscopy and fragment removal

Wait until 11+ months old!!

Question 6

Tarsal bone collapse due to incomplete ossification is seen in dysmature/premature foals and can present as an angular limb deformity. What is the treatment and prognosis?

Answer 6

Supportive therapy until maturation

Px poor

Question 7

What is bone spavin? What is juvenile spavin?

Answer 7

OA of the small tarsal joints (usually older horses)

Bone spavin in middle aged horses

Question 8

Bone spavin (OA of small tarsal joints) can be due to poor tarsal conformation. What breed is predisposed to bone spavin?

Answer 8

Icelandic

Question 9

A horse presents with palpable exostoses, squared off toes, mild lameness and a tarsocrural effusion. What is your likely diagnosis?

Answer 9

Bone spavin 
(OA of small tarsal joints)

Question 10

What are the treatment options for small tarsal OA/bog spavin?

Answer 10

Analgesia, nutraceuticals
Intra-articuar medications - steroids, hyaluronic acid
Arthrodesis (chemically or surgically)
Farriery

Question 11

What chemical is used for chemical arthrodesis?

Answer 11

Ethyl alcohol

Question 12

What is the treatment for small tarsal bone fractures?

Answer 12

Conservative

Internal fixation

Question 13

What is the treatment for malleolar fractures?

Answer 13

Surgical removal

arthroscopy

Question 14

What is the treatment for calcanea fractures?

Answer 14

May be unstable

Euthanasia

Question 15

A horse presents with severe lameness and swelling. Stress radiographs show a tarsometatarsal luxation. What are the treatment options?

Answer 15

Internal fixation and cast

Euthanasia

Question 16

Collateral ligament injuries are treated conservatively and monitored with ultrasound. When is the prognosis poor?

Answer 16

If develop OA of joint

Question 17

What is thorough pin?

Answer 17

Tarsal sheath synoviocoele

Question 18

What is a tarsal sheath synoviocoele (or thorough pin)? What causes them?

Answer 18

Large unilateral swelling on caudal crus

Tear in synovial wall (often no osseous pathology)

Question 19

What is seen on ultrasound of a synoviocoele?

Answer 19

Marked effusion

Fibrinous deposits

Question 20

What are the treatment options for tarsal sheath synoviocele/thorough pin?

Answer 20

Conservative management - drain and steroids (likely to recur)
Surgery - enlarge communication tenoscopically

Question 21

Calcane bursa swelling due to luxation of the SDFT is often due to a tear in the _____ attachment, lead to a ______ luxation.
(Medial or lateral)

Answer 21

Tear in medial attachment

Causes lateral luxation

Question 22

An agitated horse presents with a marked swelling around the calcaneous and a large bursal effusion. Ultrasound confirms a tear of the medial attachment leading to luxation of the SDFT. What are the management options?

Answer 22

Conservative - rest, NSAIDs

Surgical - debride tear