Page 312 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition
P. 312
Musculoskeletal system: 1.7c The axial skeleton – pelvis 287
VetBooks.ir 1.543 injections of corticosteroids. Fractured or luxated
coccygeal vertebrae can be stabilised with an intra-
medullary pin if cosmesis is important, but surgical
amputation will achieve swift pain relief. Traumatic
partial amputation of the tail can be treated via
removal of the most caudal remaining coccygeal
vertebra to allow for wound closure, along with sys-
temic antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy. The
extent of ischaemic damage following bandaging
injury will take time to become evident. If there are
no signs of healing after 2–3 weeks, amputation is
indicated. Severe displaced sacral fractures warrant
euthanasia.
FURTHER READING
Barstow A, Dyson S (2015) Clinical features and
Fig. 1.543 Radiograph of a 10-year-old Friesian diagnosis of sacroiliac joint region pain in 296 horses:
gelding with abnormal tail carriage and sensitivity 2004–2014. Equine Vet J 27(12):637–647.
to palpation of the tail head. No lameness was Burns G, Dart A, Jeffcott L (2016) Review article. Clinical
appreciated at the walk. There is a complete, progress in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar problems
displaced, comminuted fracture of the caudal sacral in horses. Equine Vet Educ https://doi.org/10.1111/
vertebra. This fracture healed conservatively. eve.12623.
Engeli E, Haussler KK, Erb HN (2004) Development and
validation of a periarticular injection technique of the
1.544
sacroiliac joint in horses. Equine Vet J 36(4):324–330.
Haussler KK, Stover SM, Willits NH (1999) Pathologic
changes in the lumbosacral vertebrae and pelvis
in Thoroughbred racehorses. Am J Vet Res 60(2):
143–145.
Nagy A, Dyson S, Barr A (2010) Ultrasonographic
findings in the lumbosacral joint of 43 horses with
no clinical signs of back pain or hindlimb lameness.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound 51(5):533–539.
Stubbs N, Riggs C, Hodges P, Jeffcott L, Hodgson D et al.
(2010) Osseous spinal pathology and epaxial muscle
Fig. 1.544 Radiograph
of the caudal coccygeal ultrasonography in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine
Vet J 42:654–661.
vertebrae of a pony
1 month after a tail
bandage was inadvertently
left in place for 2 days.
Note the subluxation of
one intervertebral joint,
with lysis of one vertebral
end-plate (arrow). The
distal third of the tail was
subsequently amputated
and the animal recovered
uneventfully.
