Vpcs

Front 1

What usually causes lambness?

Back 1

Limb pain

Front 2

What other differentials might there be if the most common cause of limb pain is not the cause?

Back 2

– neurological or mechanical.

Front 3

describe how a head nod can be used to diagnose severe hind limb lameness and what this might be misdiagnosed as

Back 3

downward nod when the lame foot is placed on the ground

In more severe cases of hind lameness a horse will shift its weight forward when the lame limb hits the ground. As well as a dropping of the hip on the affected limb this also causes the head and neck to shift forward and nod down at the same time.
Since the opposite forelimb bears weight at the same time as the lame hind limb during trot, this head nod thus mimics lameness in the forelimb.

Front 4

describe how foot placement differs in navicular syndrome and laminitis

Back 4

navicular syndrome- toe first
laminitis- heel first

Front 5

what else might cause a change in limb or foot flight and foot placement other than lambness

Back 5

conformation

Front 6

what is running the horse in circles useful for diagnosing, explain why and what other indicators might you use to help with this

Back 6

to differentiate between distal limb or proximal limb.
for distal limb.... worse when weight bearing, there is more weight on the inside leg so the lameness will be worse when the lame leg is on the inside. Finally the lameness will be worse on hard ground. all this is opposite for the proximal limb (I rem. as distal limb is closer to the ground)

Front 7

how is a head nod used to diagnose forelimb lameness and what actually is happening

Back 7

As the sound leg bears weight the head will nod down. As the lame leg bears weight the head will go up. ' down on the sound'

the cause of this is a reduced downward movement and increased upward moment of the head when the lame leg is set down

Front 8

how is hip movement used to diagnose hind limb lameness

Back 8

To reduce the load on the lame limb the whole pelvis is lifted upwards as the limb strikes the ground and then moves downward when the sound limb strikes the ground.
It is often much easier to see the hip of the affected limb dropping as the sound limb hits the ground.

Front 9

what are the 6 grades for lameness and what is the description for the 1st and last

Back 9

0-5
0= horse is not lame
5=non weight bearing lameness, unwilling to move

Front 10

describe all grades of lameness

Back 10

Grade 0: horse is not lame
Grade 1: difficult to detect; not consistently present even when lunged
Grade 2: difficult to detect when moving in straight lines but apparent when lunged or on hard surfaces
Grade 3: lameness obvious at trot in straight lines
Grade 4: obvious lameness; lame at walk
Grade 5: non-weight bearing lameness; unwilling to move

Front 11

what are the aims of a flexion test.

what are the problems with this test

Back 11

1. to cause lambness!! for more than 3 strides to identify if it is the lame leg.
2. localisation of the legion ( hard as it is hard to flex each joint by itself)

there is a paradoxical response

Front 12

what is the order of action in order to diagnose lameness using the following...
history
Physical examination
Lameness examination
Diagnostic local anaesthesia
Diagnostic imaging

Back 12

already in correct order

Front 13

in terms of cause of lameness what might you consider more common in warm bloods, foals and yearlings, older horses and race horses

Back 13

warm bloods- OC ( osteocondrosis)
foals and yearlings- spetic polyarthritis and osteomyelitis in foals and developmental orthopaedic disease in foals and yearlings
older - osteoarthritis
race horses- tendon injuries and fractures

Front 14

although nature of onset and progression of lameness as described by the owner can be misleading, how might you use this information

Back 14

Sudden onset severe lameness – acute traumatic injuries, which often improve with rest e.g. fractures, tendon injuries, severe ligament injuries
Rapid onset severe lameness, frequently with wound – septic arthritis
Gradual onset, slowly progressive, low grade lameness, might vary in severity (e.g. be intermittent) – degenerative conditions, e.g. OA, foot problems such as navicular disease

Front 15

what should the slope angle of the fore and hind feet dorsal wall be. what else should be looked at.

Back 15

fore feet-50-54
hind feet 53-57
heels parallel to dorsal wall
heels at least 1/3 height ( less in hind feet)

Front 16

what is the normal range of fetlock flexion

Back 16

100-120

Front 17

when should you not use diagnostic local anaesthetic

Back 17

if the horse is acutely and severely lame and removing the pain will make the injury worse

Front 18

what are the main diagnostic imaging techniques used

Back 18

radiography and ultrasound

Front 19

what are some of the possible causes of acute severe lameness and what grade would this be

Back 19

Fractures
Subsolar abscess
Laminitis
Cellulitis
Infected joint/tendon sheath/bursa
Severe tendon/ligament strain
Traumatic arthritis
Lymphangitis
Rhabdomyolysis

Grade (3)4-5/5. i.e. obvious at walk or at rest

Front 20

should nerve blocks be used to investigate fractures

Back 20

no

Front 21

in racehorses list the following in order of most common to fracture - MC3-P1-proximal sesamoid bone.

In which part of the pelvis are fracture more common in race horses- the wing or shaft of the ilium

Back 21

correct order in Q

ilial wing > shaft

Front 22

what are fractures usually a result of in race horses and how does this usually present on X ray

Back 22

a build up of microscopic damage due to repeated overloading eg exercise as speed.

on x ray may be non displaced and incomplete and may just be seen from 1 radiograph.

Front 23

what is the 1st step for fracture stabilization of limbs

Back 23

the limbs are divided into sections which differ in fore and hind limb. The section where the fracture is will be where the splint/ bandage will be placed so it determines the length and position of the bandage/ splint

Front 24

is a level 1 fracture the distal limb or proximal limb

Back 24

distal

Front 25

in a stable level 1 fracture where should you not put any bandage past and where should the splint make contact with and where should the splints be

Back 25

the hock ( HL) or Knee ( FL)

the splint should make contact with the foot and proximal MC3. there should be a lateral and a dorsal splint

Front 26

does P3 require stabilization if fractured

Back 26

no

Front 27

in a stable level 1 fracture which bones might the fracture be in

Back 27

p1,p2 or distal metacarpus/ metatarsus
( note P3 does not need to be stabilized )

Front 28

what level is a level 2 fracture at. and where should the splints be

Back 28

mid metacarpus to distal radius in the FL. splints should be from elbow to ground caudally and laterally

mid and proximal metatarsus in the hindlimb. same. includes hock and tuber calcis

Front 29

where might the splint be placed in a unstable level 1 fracture with limb shortening

Back 29

FL- dorsal
HL- plantar with heel wedge

Front 30

where are level 3 fractures and where should the splints go

Back 30

mid and proximal radius -FL
hock and tibia- HL

FL- same as level 2 -mid metacarpus to distal radius in the FL. splints should be from elbow to ground caudally and laterally, except the lateral splint is extended up the side of the chest.

HL- sames as level 2 -mid and proximal metatarsus in the hindlimb. same. includes hock and tuber calcis, except bandage as far proximally as possible and extend lateral splint to lateral thigh

Front 31

stabilisation of a fractured limb is not always necessary, give examples of when this might be the case.

Back 31

Limb stability preserved, e.g. splint bone fractures, carpal chip fractures & slab fractures – simple padded bandage generally sufficient
Level 4 # (humerus, scapula, femur, pelvis) – cannot be done effectively
Pedal bone fractures – hoof capsule stabilises fracture

Front 32

what is the ideal fracture to treat?

Back 32

Distal limb
No wound, minimal soft tissue trauma
Simple, incomplete, i.e. stable
Non-articular
Just one injury

Front 33

when is the prognosis poor for a fracture and why

Back 33

proximal limb - complete fracture of the tibia and femur because prognosis is hopeless as there is usually another injury and cant be stabilized ?? maybe??

open fracture

severe soft tissue damage

unstable ( comminuted - broken in many bits-, complete, displaced)

more than 1 fracture site or an injury of another organ system

Front 34

out of the following acute lameness injuries which ones are emergencies...

fracture, foot abscess, septic arthritis/ tenosynovitis

Back 34

all except foot abscess

Front 35

What conditions commonly occur in the equine foot?

Back 35

Osteoarthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ)
Laminitis
Navicular syndrome
Pedal osteitis
Palmar heel pain

Front 36

what is often the most important treatment for problems with feet

Back 36

''FARRIERY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY FOOT ASSOCIATED LAMENESS!''