Page 808 - Adams and Stashak's Lameness in Horses, 7th Edition

774 Chapter 6

ilial shaft damage the internal iliac artery, shock and exsan- clear signs of the origin of the trauma. Crepitation can be
guination can occur. When the fracture is complete, the tuber found with a rectal or vaginal examination, especially
VetBooks.ir to be shorter. Rectal or vaginal examination reveals a possible Profound swelling can also be felt with the rectal or vagi-
when the horse is rocked a bit during the examination.
coxae will be asymmetric, and the affected limb will appear
nal examination. Sometimes swelling is noticeable around
hematoma and crepitation. Many of these fractures are mul-
tiple fractures that involve the pubis, ischium, and ilium. the stifle and thigh area. Ultrasonography 1,31 (transcutane-
Prognosis is unfavorable, and often euthanasia is performed. ously or transrectally) can assist in the diagnosis when
there is a complete fracture (Figure 6.17). Radiography
under anesthesia can confirm acetabular fractures but
Acetabular Fractures
adds the challenge of safe recovery afterward. Scintigraphy
Acetabular fractures are traumatic in origin (e.g., fall- is the most sensitive technique but should be performed at
ing, slipping, trailering accidents) and very painful. In least 7–10 days after the initial cause; otherwise, the
most cases the horse is non‐weight‐bearing lame and reluc-
tant to move at all. Some horses are found non‐weight
bearing standing in the pasture or paddock without any

Figure 6.16. Ultrasound image of the tuber ischium of the horse
in Figure 6.15. A large fragment that is avulsed from the tuber
Figure 6.15. Lateral scintigraphy image of the hindquarters. ischium is visible and is displaced ventrally. Note the attached
Increased uptake is visible in the region of the tuber ischium. muscle pulling it ventrally.

Figure 6.17. Ultrasonographic image of an acetabular fracture. At the left is a normal image, whereas a fracture of the acetabulum (arrow)
can be seen on the right. FH = femoral head. Source: Courtesy of Dr. Mary Beth Whitcomb.