Page 311 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition
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286                                        CHAPTER 1



  VetBooks.ir  1.541                                      1.542























           Fig. 1.541  This horse was hit from behind by a
           vehicle and sustained a fracture of the sacrum. The
           fracture has healed but left an obvious angulation in the
           line of the sacrum halfway between the tail head and
           the tuber sacrale. (Photo courtesy Graham Munroe)

           Fig. 1.542  A tail that was bandaged too tightly and
           sloughed off the distal end. In addition, it caused
           varying thickness pressure rubs and ulcerations, which
           are now healing. (Photo courtesy Graham Munroe)




           motor weakness and, therefore, faecal and urine   These should be ruled out using appropriate diag-
           (mares) staining. Some injuries may go unnoticed   nostic tests.
           until swelling of the tail or excessive faecal contami-
           nation becomes apparent. More severe neural injury  Diagnosis
           may  result  in  failure  of  defecation  or  micturition.   Radiography of the sacrum and tail will confirm
           Sacrococcygeal fractures or luxations will result   sacrococcygeal fractures, luxations and osteomy-
           in  local  swelling,  abnormal  movement,  anatomical   elitis (Figs. 1.543, 1.544). Nuclear scintigraphy
           distortion (Fig. 1.541) and pain on palpation and/  may reveal increased radiopharmaceutical uptake on
           or manipulation. Hindlimb lameness may also be   both the soft tissue and bone phase in the region of
           seen, and may be worse under saddle, particularly   traumatic injury.
           if the caudal sacrum is involved. Ischaemic dam-  Infiltration of local anaesthetic solution in the
           age is characterised by necrosis (blackening) of the   region of injury can establish the significance of coc-
           skin (Fig. 1.542). Sacral trauma can also cause tail   cygeal injury, particularly in relation to clinical signs
             weakness (Fig. 1.543).                       such as hindlimb lameness.

           Differential diagnosis                         Management
           Other conditions that can cause similar clinical signs   Reported successful conservative management
           include  polyneuritis  equi,  equine  protozoal  myeli-  options for horses with sacrococcygeal fractures
           tis and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy.   range from reduced exercise alone to epidural
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