Clinical anatomy of the equine athlete
Denoix J.-M., DVM, Agrégé, PhD, FounderISELP, DECVSMR
CIRALE-NEV, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 14430 Goustranville, France
INRAE, USC 957-BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
ABSTRACT
Clinical examination is essential to identify the causes of lameness or dysfunction in the equine patient as well as to establish the clinical incidence of imaging findings in order to avoid erroneous interpretation or prognosis.
During this workshop, the importance of physical examination, based on the knowledge of the normal superficial anatomy of the horse will be highlighted. The normal horse conformation and potential physical defects of the thoracic limb, pelvic limb and axial regions will be reviewed. The foot conformation, varus and valgus conformational defects as well as low vs straight pastern axis and straight hock conformation will be discussed.
Palpation (and pressure) of most of the anatomical structures of the limbs will be presented. For exemple, the collateral ligaments of the interphalangeal joints and fetlock joint, the medial lobe of the proximal suspensory ligament (thoracic limb), the tendon of the infraspinatus muscle, the latissimus dorsi, the collateral ligaments of the tarsus, the proximal suspensory ligament (hindlimb), the medial recess of the medial femorotibial joint, the meniscotibial and collateral ligaments of the stifle…
Mobilisation of the thoracic and pelvic limbs (flexion, extension, protraction, retraction, adduction, abduction, collateromotion, rotation…) will be performed in order to assess the amount of motion (and pain) of the different joints and demonstrated as having a potential therapeutic interest for the management of muscle and joint injuries. Mobilisation of selected parts of the thoracolumbar spine and neck will be demonstrated with the same objectives.
Rehabilitation of ligaments injuries (including stifle ligaments)
Denoix J.-M., DVM, Agrégé, PhD, FounderISELP, DECVSMR
CIRALE-NEV, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 14430 Goustranville, France
INRAE, USC 957-BPLC, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
ABSTRACT
Ligaments injuries are common in horses. They can be induced by a traumatic event such as a fall, a sliding, or an external trauma. Athletic injuries, most commonly seen in the distal joints or the meniscotibial ligaments, are the result of repetitive stresses induced by mobilization and load during training and competition.
A rational rehabilitation program (RP) must begin with a clear diagnosis and documentation of the injured ligament(s). A careful clinical examination is required to identify the situations inducing the most severe clinical manifestations which should be avoided at the beginning of the RP. Knowledge of the functional anatomy of the injured ligament(s) is essential for controlling and manipulating the biomechanical stresses along the different steps of the RP. Every aspect of the RP should be adapted to the individual case presentation and progression: the gait, speed, type of exercise, corrective shoeing and selected ground surface will be established and revised at each step of the RP based on clinical and imaging rechecks.
Management of different desmopathies and enthesopathies will be discussed including those affecting the collateral ligaments of the interphalangeal joints, the collateral ligaments of the tarsocrural joint, the meniscotibial, collateral and cruciate ligaments of the stifle.
