Lameness Examination of the Horse By Brian S. Burks, DVM, Dipl. ABVP- Board Certified in Equine Practice Lameness is common in horses, resulting in horses that cannot be used for a period of time, or maybe never again. Some types of lameness may even result in euthanasia. Horses may be asked to perform while in pain due to lack of recognition by owners or trainers. A basic understanding of lameness will help you work with a veterinarian in several important ways. • Purchase of horses that are not currently lame and have good conformation. • Recognizing conformation defects and managing or preventing problems • Lameness may be the root cause of poor performance. • Diagnosis and treatment early in the course of lameness. Lameness may be caused by a variety of lesions. These include skin wounds, tissue damage/bruising, muscle pain, arthritis, tendon sheath and bursal inflammation, tendon and ligament injury, and orthopedic injury. Horses with poor conformation are more likely to suffer injuries to these structures. When looking at forelimb lameness, 80% of lameness comes from below the fetlock. Upper limb lameness is more common in young horses due to developmental orthopedic disease. In general forelimb lameness is easier to recognize than hind limb. Lameness diagnosis begins with a good history and a detailed examination. Complex lameness issues are best dealt with in the hospital setting. • The lameness examination begins by looking at the horse from a distance to evaluate conformation • Closer examination to feel for swelling, heat, joint effusion of specific structures. • Watching the horse walk and trot. This is done in hand and also via longe line. Sometimes watching the horse with a rider can help. • Flexion of the various joints to elicit a pain response, if present. • Hoof tester evaluation of the foot. This may identify a specific area in the foot. • Nerve blocks, beginning at the lowest points. By knowing what structures are blocked, a specific area can be determined. If the horse is not sound after one block, then another can be performed, progressing up the limb until the lameness is improved or abolished. • Sometimes a specific joint may be blocked to determine its contribution, or lack of, to the lameness. • Diagnostic imaging such as radiographs and ultrasound. Other modalities may include nuclear scintigraphy or MRI. Each part of the examination is pieced together to form a conclusion and direct treatment. A properly performed examination requires a thorough knowledge of anatomy and a methodical approach. Fox Run Equine Center foxrunequine
Posted on: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 14:00:01 +0000
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