Proximal gastrocnemius and superficial digitalflexor (SDF)muscle injuries are reported in the horse but are uncommon.In adult horses, the definitive diagnosis is more commonlybased on clinical signs with or without the use of radiographicexamination and/or nuclear scintigraphy. This case reportdescribes the clinical and ultrasonographicfindings of a tearof the gastrocnemius muscle in a 6-year-old reining mare. Atstanding physical examination, there was a sickled hockappearance, with the point of the hock of the left hindlimblower (dropped hock) than that of the right hindlimb. Atdynamic examination at walk, the mare had instability of theleft hock characterised by medial rotation of the hoof andlateral rotation of the point of the hock (twisting motion); attrot, the horse showed mild/moderate left hindlimb lamenesscharacterised by more downward movement of the pelvisduring weightbearing of the lame limb compared with that ofthe sound limb. Ultrasonographic examination of the left thighand crus showed a large irregular hypoechogenic area andirregularly shaped, retracted muscle stumps on the lateralaspect of the gastrocnemius muscles; the proximal insertionof the SDF muscle on the supracondylar fossa of the femurwas irregular in its outline, hypoechogenic and thickenedcompared with that of the right side. Characteristic musclefibre pattern was not identified in the left gastrocnemiusmuscle. On the radiography, a mild irregularity of the bonemargin of the lateral supracondylar tuberosity was detectedon the caudo 45°medial-craniolateral oblique view of thedistal femur. Clinical and diagnostic imagingfindings wereconsistent with partial failure of the caudal part of thereciprocal apparatus and injury of the gastrocnemius and SDFmuscles/origin. The horse was managed conservatively bycorrective shoeing, muscle relaxing drugs, controlledexercise and manual stretching.
Clinical and ultrasonographic findings of a tear of the gastrocnemius muscle and enthesopathy of the origin of the superficial digital flexor muscle in a reining Quarter Horse mare
Pressanto, M. C.;Pepe, M.;Di Meo, A.;Beccati, F.
2021
Abstract
Proximal gastrocnemius and superficial digitalflexor (SDF)muscle injuries are reported in the horse but are uncommon.In adult horses, the definitive diagnosis is more commonlybased on clinical signs with or without the use of radiographicexamination and/or nuclear scintigraphy. This case reportdescribes the clinical and ultrasonographicfindings of a tearof the gastrocnemius muscle in a 6-year-old reining mare. Atstanding physical examination, there was a sickled hockappearance, with the point of the hock of the left hindlimblower (dropped hock) than that of the right hindlimb. Atdynamic examination at walk, the mare had instability of theleft hock characterised by medial rotation of the hoof andlateral rotation of the point of the hock (twisting motion); attrot, the horse showed mild/moderate left hindlimb lamenesscharacterised by more downward movement of the pelvisduring weightbearing of the lame limb compared with that ofthe sound limb. Ultrasonographic examination of the left thighand crus showed a large irregular hypoechogenic area andirregularly shaped, retracted muscle stumps on the lateralaspect of the gastrocnemius muscles; the proximal insertionof the SDF muscle on the supracondylar fossa of the femurwas irregular in its outline, hypoechogenic and thickenedcompared with that of the right side. Characteristic musclefibre pattern was not identified in the left gastrocnemiusmuscle. On the radiography, a mild irregularity of the bonemargin of the lateral supracondylar tuberosity was detectedon the caudo 45°medial-craniolateral oblique view of thedistal femur. Clinical and diagnostic imagingfindings wereconsistent with partial failure of the caudal part of thereciprocal apparatus and injury of the gastrocnemius and SDFmuscles/origin. The horse was managed conservatively bycorrective shoeing, muscle relaxing drugs, controlledexercise and manual stretching.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
