Page 1114 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

Nervous system 1089

VetBooks.ir 10.44

Fig. 10.44 Two foals that were in a
trailer accident and unable to stand.
Note the paraphimosis in the foal
in the foreground. This foal had a
fracture of the 3rd lumbar vertebra
(see 10.45). The foal in the background
is sitting sternally and was able to ‘dog
sit’. This foal had a fracture of the 8th
thoracic vertebra.
10.45

Fig. 10.45 Transection of the spinal
cord at the 3rd lumbar vertebra of the
foal in 10.44.

Lumbosacral spine (L3–S2) no other more cranial lesions, there will be no signs
Lesions of the spinal cord in these areas result in of ataxia or proprioceptive deficits.
paraplegia and paraparesis of the hindlimbs and
no evidence of forelimb involvement. The paraly- Diagnosis
sis is often flaccid, and there will be hyporeflexia A neurological examination should allow neuroana-
or areflexia. If the lesion is in the region of S1/S2, tomical localisation of the lesion(s). Plain radiogra-
the bladder may show signs of LMN dysfunction, phy may be helpful in confirming vertebral trauma,
including flaccidity and reduced sphincter tone. but does not directly evaluate the presence or extent
Paraphimosis and a reduction in tail tone may also of spinal cord damage. Abnormalities seen that indi-
be noted (Figs. 10.46, 10.47). cate injury are displacements of vertebral compo-
nents, shortened or abnormally shaped vertebrae,
Sacrococcygeal (S3–Cd5) slipped physeal plates and fractures. The advantages
Lesions of this area are referred to as cauda equina of CT for the assessment of traumatic fractures are
syndrome and present with flaccidity of the tail and well established, but its use in practice depends on
paraphimosis. There is a loss of sensation to the access to a suitable facility. The use of wide-bore CT
entire perineum, and urinary incontinence. Often equipment enables imaging of the caudal neck up
the horse is unable to urinate or defecate. If there are to T1–T2 under general anaesthesia and up to C2