Exam 3: Lecture 29 - Management of Orthopedic Emergencies LA Flashcards
what is the most common cause of severe single limb lameness in horses
foot abscess (subsolar abscess)
what are the other common causes of severe single limb lameness in horses (other than foot abscess)
- fracture
- cellulitis
- septic synovial structure
- nerve injury
- other crazy injury like joint luxation or tendon laceration
what are the numbers of the AAEP lameness grading scale
0-5
what is AAEP lameness scale 0 described as
lameness not perceptible under any circumstances
what is AAEP lameness scale 1 described as
lameness is difficult to observe and is not consistently apparent, regardless of circumstances
what is AAEP lameness scale 2 described as
lameness is difficult to observe at a walk or when trotting in a straight line but consistently apparent under certain circumstances
what is AAEP lameness scale 3 described as
lameness is consistently observable at a trot under all circumstances
what is AAEP lameness scale 4 described as
lameness if obvious at a walk
what is AAEP lameness scale 5 described as
lameness produces minimal weight bearing in motion and/or at rest or a complete inability to move
T/F: It is normal for horses to rest their front legs
FALSE!! not normal
If a horse is resting its front leg, what does that mean
they are usually lame in the leg they are resting
are these normal stances for forelimbs
no! they usually rest hindlimb, not FORELIMBS
what are the steps of triaging of severe lameness
assess patient pain level, history, PE (+/- TPR, examine lame leg)
what should we do if we cannot determine the cause of lameness
TREAT AS A FRACTURE until proven otherwise
what do we look for when we examine the limb for lameness
digital pulses, swelling, wounds, crepitus, or pain on palpation
why do we use hoof testers when looking at a lame horse
always start with these because can determine if there may or may not be an abscess…..also saves owners money before taking rads!
what is diagnostic anesthesia
a nerve block to determine the cause of severe lameness
when should we NEVER do a nerve block
if there is a high likelihood that there is a fracture…..if they feel better they bear weight and then can make the fx WORSE
when is imaging the first choice for diagnostics
if there is a high chance of fracture
when do we do radiographs on the limb
only once the limb is stable
why would it take 7-10 days for an incomplete fracture to become more visible
The fracture has osteoclastic activity that extends the fracture line making it more visible over time
what are the 5 things we should do if we suspect there is a fracture
- stabilization
- analgesia
- supportive care
- treatment options
- transportation considerations
what is the NUMBER ONE rule for fracture stabilization
immobilize the joint above AND below the fracture!!!
what joints should we stabilize for this fracture
stifle and tarsus