Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tarsocrural joint luxation in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1991
- Authors:
- Reeves, M J & Trotter, G W
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 14-year-old Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred mix gelding was taken to a veterinary hospital because he couldn't put weight on his right back leg, and his hock (the joint in the leg) was severely bent. The vets suspected he had either a dislocated joint or a fracture. X-rays showed that the joint was completely dislocated, but they were able to fix it with gentle pressure. He had to stay in a box stall and wear a full-length cast for 33 days, and then he remained in the stall for another three months after the cast was taken off. When the horse was checked again 18 months later, he had only a little lameness but had significant stiffness in the joint. Despite these issues, he was still able to be used occasionally for light riding and was doing well on pasture.
Abstract
A 14-year-old Quarter Horse x Thoroughbred gelding was admitted to the teaching hospital because of inability to bear weight on its right hind limb, associated with a severe deviation of the tarsus. The provisional diagnosis was tarsal joint luxation or fracture. Radiography revealed complete luxation of the tarsocrural joint. The luxation was reduced, using minimal force. The horse was confined to a box stall and was maintained in a full-length hind-limb cast for 33 days. Box stall confinement was continued for 3 months after removal of the cast. On reexamination 18 months after the injury, the horse had only mild lameness (grade 1 of 5), but had marked reduction in the range of motion of the tarsus. Radiography revealed extensive changes indicative of severe degenerative joint disease. The horse was still used occasionally as a light pleasure riding horse and maintained itself on pasture well.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1748610/