Fetlock

Abstract: I. Introduction. Bone Structure and the Response of Bone to Stress. Fracture Biomechanics. Fracture Healing and Its Noninvasive Assessment. General Considerations in Selecting Cases for Fracture Patients. First Aid and Transportation of Equine Fracture Patients. Perioperative Considerations. Surgical Equipment and Implants for Fracture Repair. Principles of Fracture Fixation. Bone Grafts and Bone Substitutes. Novel Biological Agents to Enhance Fracture Healing. Casting Techniques. Ii. Specific Fractures. Fractures of the Proximal Phalanx. Fractures of the Middle Phalanx. Fractures of the Distal Phalanx. Fetlock Fractures and Luxations. Fractures of the Proximal Sesamoid Bones. Metacarpophalangeal/Metatarsophalangeal Breakdown Injuries. Metacarpal/Metatarsal Iii Fractures. Metacarpal Stress Fractures. Fractures of the Small Metacarpal/Metatarsal. Fractures of the Carpus. Fractures of the Radius. Fractures of the Ulna. Fractures of the Humerus. Fractures of the Scapula. Fractures and Luxations of the Hock. Fractures of the Tibia. Fractures of the Femur and Patella Bramlage. Pelvic Fracture and Coxo-Femoral Luxation. Fractures of the Vertebrae. Fractures of the Cranium. Fractures of the Mandible & Maxilla. Iii. Postoperative Aspects of Fracture Repair. Anesthetic Recovery Systems. Postanesthetic Myositis and Neuropathy. Orthopedic Implant Failure. Delayed Union/Nonunion/Malunion. Osteomyelitis. Stress Laminitis and Contracture Deformities. Stress Laminitis and Contracture Deformities. Advances in Pain Control in Fracture Patients.

Abstract: Summary Radiographic examinations of the tarsocrural and metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints were made in two groups of 1.5-year-old Standardbreds. One group comprised 674 horses drawn at random from the Swedish population of Standardbred trotters to provide an estimate of the incidence of tarsocrural joint osteochondrosis and osteochondral fragments in the fetlock joints. An additional 119 progeny of 4 stallions which themselves had osteochondrosis or fetlock fragments were included for the study of the distribution of lesions and the characteristics of affected animals, i.e. a total of 793 animals. The radiographic views were chosen to detect osteochondrosis in the tarsocrural joints (OC) and palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments (POF), ununited palmar/plantar eminences (UPE) and dorsal fragments (DF) in the fetlock joints. The incidence of tarsocrural joint OC was estimated as 10.5% while palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments in the fetlock joints were present in 21.5% of the 674 animals. In the group of 793 animals, tarsocrural joint OC was seen in 11.5% of the horses and was found bilaterally in 45% of the affected animals. In the fetlock joints, POF was found in 22.4%, UPE in 4.2% and DF in 4.4% of the horses. One or several of the lesions were found in 35.9% of the 793 horses. There were no significant sex differences in the incidence of OC and POF, but when all lesions were considered males were significantly more often affected than females (40.5% vs 31.2%). Of the OC lesions in the tarsocrural joint, 95% were found at the intermediate ridge of the tibia and 5% were seen at the lateral trochlea of the talus. POF and UPE mainly occurred in the hindlimbs. In 75% of the POF cases, the findings were located in the medial part of the joint while UPE findings almost exclusively were found laterally. Horses with UPE had a significantly higher incidence of POF. The incidence of OC in the tarsocrural joint was related to the date of birth and the incidence was higher in the later than in the early part of the foaling season. The incidence of OC findings was also related to body size. Horses affected were taller at the withers and had a greater circumference of the carpus. Synovial effusions of the tarsocrural joint were significantly more pronounced in horses with radiographic signs of OC. In horses with POF and UPE, synovial effusions of the fetlock joints were not more frequent or severe.

Abstract: Summary The kinematic patterns of all limbs of 11 clinically nonlame Dutch Warmblood horses were studied during induced supporting limb lameness to gain insight into the compensation mechanisms horses use to manage lameness and to test kinematic limb variables for their significance as lameness indicators. Using the locomotion analysis system CODA-3, the kinematics of the horses were recorded while walking (1.6 m/s) and trotting (3.5 m/s) on a treadmill. A transient lameness model, evoking pressure on the hoof sole, was used to induce 3 degrees of fore- and hindlimb lameness. Joint angle patterns and hoof movements were analysed using joint angle/time diagrams and the hoof trajectories in the sagittal plane. Quantitative analysis of 13 selected variables in each limb was done using a 2-way analysis of variance. Hyperextension of the fetlock joint and flexion of the coffin joint during the stance phase decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the lame limb, both in fore- and hindlimb lameness, at both gaits. In the contralateral nonlame limbs, both variables increased compensatorily. Flexion increased with increasing lameness in the proximal joints, i.e. the shoulder joint and even more the tarsal joint of the lame limb. The retraction of both forelimbs decreased during forelimb lameness at the walk, while in the lame hindlimb the protraction decreased. The hoof arcs were lower in the lame limb than in the nonlame limb, due to an increased hoof height in the nonlame limb during forelimb lameness and to a decreased height in the lame limb during hindlimb lameness. It was concluded that patterns of the distal joints reflect the different loadings of the limbs during lameness. Proximal joints acted as load dampers to reduce peak forces in the lame limb. Hyperextension of the fetlock and flexion of the coffin joint proved to be the most sensitive indicators for fore- and hindlimb lameness.