Page 148 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

114 Chapter 2

The examiner may also wish to assess the horse’s exerting downward pressure to the muscles in the thora­
willingness to ventroflex, dorsiflex, and lateroflex its columbar region. A blunted instrument (needle cap) run
VetBooks.ir horse’s ability to ventroflex the back is obtained by the back. Lateral flexion can usually be assessed by
over the croup usually causes dorsiflexion or arching of
thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Assessment of the
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firmly stroking either side of the thoracolumbar region
with a blunted instrument. Reluctance to flex the back
in any of these directions may suggest muscle tightening
and back rigidity within the thoracolumbar region (see
Chapter 6 for further information on examination of
the back and axial skeleton).

Figure 2.98. Severe atrophy of the left gluteal muscles
secondary to a pelvic fracture. Disuse gluteal atrophy tends to occur Figure 2.99. Kyphosis of the thoracolumbar region was present
more quickly and more profoundly with pelvic fractures than other in this foal and was due to a developmental malformation of the
lameness problems more distal in the limb. vertebral column in this location.

A

B
Figure 2.100. (A) Palpation of the summits of the dorsal spinous processes to identify depressions, protrusions, swelling, and pain.
(B) Palpation of the axial alignment of the dorsal spinous processes.