Diseases of the axial skeleton

Question 1

List 5 clinical signs of back pain in horse

Answer 1

Poor muscling
Pain on palpation
Abnormal dynamic responses
Resentment of ridden exercise
Poor quality canter (vs trot)

Question 2

what is the best radiograph view for looking at dorsal spinous processes

Answer 2

laterolateral view

Question 3

what do we need to be careful of looking at dorsospinous processes on radiography

Answer 3

CARE – you can find dorsal spinous process disease in a large proportion of horses with no back pain!!

Question 4

what is kissing spine

Answer 4

Dorsal spinous process impingement

Question 5

List 3 methods other than radiography to increase index of suspicion for Dorsal spinous process impingement

Answer 5

Gamma scintigraphy
response to local anaesthesia
response to local anti-inflammatories

Question 6

what do you need to do when using local anaesthesia to try and diagnose Dorsal spinous process impingement

Answer 6

Need ato asses under saddle before and after giving local anaesthesia

Question 7

what is the most common starting medical management for kissing spine

Answer 7

Local injection of corticosteroids
Rehabilitation program to restore strength and function

Question 8

List 2 surgical management techniques to treat DSP impingement (kissing spine)

Answer 8

Interspinous ligament desmotomy
Subtotal (cranial wedge) ostectomy

Question 9

Name a advantage and disadvantge of Interspinous ligament desmotomy
to treat DSP impingement

Answer 9

Disadvantages:
Doesn’t change underlying anatomy

Advantages:
Short rehabilitation period

Question 10

List 3 disadvantgaes of Subtotal (cranial wedge) ostectomy management of DSP impingement

Answer 10

Invasive procedure
Post-operative pain
Long rehabilitation period

Question 11

List 2 advantgaes of Subtotal (cranial wedge) ostectomy to treat DSP impingement

Answer 11

Permanent anatomy change
Better long-term outcomes

Question 12

Describe how to treat articular process joint disease

Answer 12

corticosteroid injection

Question 13

other than DSP issues name another spinal disease that can cause horse back pain

Answer 13

articular process joint disease- is under diagnosed because harder to radiograph

Question 14

List 4 ‘clinical signs’ of Lumbosacral and sacroiliac disease

Answer 14

Can buck under saddle
Becomes disunited at canter
Has poor hind limb engagement
Occasionally has overt lameness

Question 15

Describe how to block sacroiliac region in horse

Answer 15

Inject local anaesthetic into the sacroiliac joint bilaterally
Ideally observe the horse ridden before and after blocking
NEED to warn owner horse ca become recumbent for 3-4 hours

Question 16

List 3 methods to improve a horses core stability as part of rehabilitation

Answer 16

Sternal lifts
LSI dorsiflexion
Tail pulls

Question 17

List 4 things that water treadmills can improve

Answer 17

strength
coordination
stability
postural control