VSR 511-Class 8 and 9

THOROUGH PIN

·         Tenosynovitis ( the inflammation of the fluid-filled sheath (called the synovium) that surrounds a tendon) of the tarsal sheath enclosing deep digital flexor tendon of the hind limbs. Chronic synovitis or distension of the tarsal sheath.

·         Etiology

o    More common in young stall resting and in draught horses

o    Straight hock conformation

·         Clinical signs

o    Oedema cranio proximal to tuber calcaneus

·         Diagnosis

o    Clinical signs

o     Radiography

o    Ultrasonography

·         Treatment

o    Pressure bandage administration

o    Stable confinement

o    Topical DMSO and NSAIDs application

o    Intrathecal short acting corticosteroid administration

o    Line firing

o    Aspiration from the sheath and tincture iodine application

o    Synovectomy

·         Prognosis for soundness

o    Favourable to guarded

SPAVIN

 

·         Exostosis in the posterio-inferio internal aspect of hock below the level of tibio-tarsal articulation with osteo arthritis of the hock joint. Usually noticed in the young age. Types                                                                                          ·         High spavin – Spavin noticed above the posterior-inferio internal aspect of the hock ·         Anterior spavin – Spavin Anterior to hock ·         Jack spavin – spavin with Very large exostosis .True spavinor bone spavin-Osteoarthritis or Denegrative joint disease of distal tarsal joints. Osteoarthritis or periostitis(Proximal intertarsal,distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal). Cyst formation in subchondral bone.Irregular atrophy of subchondral bone leading to joint widening or complete ankylosis. ·         Occult spavin - Spavin lameness without exostosis

·         Etiology

o    Hereditary

o    Defective conformation

o    Improper calcium phosphorus ratio

o    Trauma

o    Septic arthritis

·         Clinical signs

o    Presence of exostosis

o    Lameness

o    Imperfect flexion of hock

o    Dragging of toe

o    Long stride

o    Atrophy of the gluteal muscle

·         Diagnosis

o    Clinical signs

o    Radiography

o    Spavin test

·         Treatment

o    Cunean tenotomy (medial insertion on 1^st and 2^nd tarsal bones of cranial tibial muscle(tibialis cranialis).That synovial bursa is cunean bursa.

o    Promoting local ankylosis by needle point firing and blistering

o    Anterior and posterior tibial neurectomy

·         Prognosis for soundness

o    Animal with spavin is considered as unsound

Bog spavin

Chronic distension of the tibiotarsal joint capsule of hock causing a sweeling on dorso-medial aspect of the hock joint.

• Distention of tibio tarsal joint capsule at the superio-anterio internal aspect of the hock.
• Etiology
• Deformity of the hock joint/Faulty conformation.
• Constant hard work  or trauma.
• Tarsal chip fracture.
• Osteochondritis dissecans of lateral tibial trochlea.
• Mineral and vitamin imbalance.
• Clinical signs
• Absence of lameness and pain
• Decreased range of motion due to mechanical interference
• Diagnosis
• Clinical signs
• Radiography
• Spavin test or flexion test.
• Treatment
• Injection of intra-articular irritant solution
• Aspiration of the joint effusion
• Needle point firing
• Blistering
• Prognosis for soundness
• Animal with bog spavin is considered as unsound 

CURB

CURB (Desmitis of the plantar ligament)

·         Curb is an enlargement of plantar aspect of fibular tarsal bone by inflammation of plantar ligament.

·         Enlargement at the postero-inferior aspect of the hock causing a backward curvature of the normal straight line between the point of hock and the fetlock.

• Etiology
• Mal conformation– sickle shaped or curby, tied-in hock
• Violent exertion or stress and trauma.
• Hereditary Predisposition
• Violent  extension
• Clinical signs
• Localised pain, swelling
• Bow shaped enlargement on a level of chestnut
• Mild lameness  
• Diagnosis
• Clinical signs
• Ultrasonography
• Treatment
• Moderate exercise provision
• Cold and astringent application
• High heel shoeing
• Local application of DMSO
• Blistering with biniodide of mercury
• Needle point firing
• Prognosis for soundness
• If observed as hereditary it is an unsound condition

 

CAPPED HOCK

Capped hock (Hygroma or distension of the superficial bursa on the point of the hock)

·         Distension of the small bursa situated between the gastrocenemius and superficial flexor tendons noticed as swelling on either side slightly above the point of the hock without any pain and lameness.

·         Occasionally noticed in cattle and larger breed dogs

• Etiology
• Contusion at the hock
• Repeated injury due to kicking in the stable
• Sudden rising on hock
• Clinical signs
• Inflammatory swelling at the point of hock
• Abscess formation if infected
• Chronic cases – painless fibrosed thickening
• Diagnosis
• Clinical signs
• Radiography
• Ultrasonography
• Treatment
• Provision of the soft litter
• Aspiration of cystic contents and injection of tincture iodine
• Needle point firing
• Surgical excision of fibrosed mass
• Application of iodine ointment
• Prevention
• Padding the sides of the stall
• Application of hock cap

Ulceration of sole

·         Commonly noticed in grazing cattle and may occur in any digit but are more common in lateral claws of hind limb and medial claws of forelimb. The seat of lesion is at the corium that overlies the flexor process of the third phalanx

• Etiology
• Over trimming of toes
• As secondary to interdigital dermatitis
• Clinical signs

o    Slight haemorrhage, necrosis of the corium and surrounding tissues

• Treatment

o    Corrective trimming.

o    Application of hoof block to healthy claw to avoid weight bearing on the affected limb

Contusion of sole (Pododermatitis/Bruised sole)

Definition

• A specific lesion affecting the sole or sole-heel junction starting as a hemorrhage in the corium and leading to loss of horn over the area with the resulting track to the bearing surface.

Incidence

• The condition commonly affects adult cattle. Frequently in the lateral claws and  medial claws of  fore feet.

Clinical features

• Sudden  lameness , abduction of limb, excessive pulsation of the artery over the metatarsal / metacarpal region, pain on pressure .
• Cauliflower like growth of granulation tissue. This lesion frequently bleeds.
• Severe continuing lameness leads to considerable strain on the opposite supporting limb.

Etiology

• Greater weight bearing , intensive feeding of oilseed cakes, cow-hocked animals and abnormal hoof lengths leads to the excessive tension on deep flexor tendon may result from an abnormal posture.
• Thrombosis in digital arteries, it is sequelae of partially used chronic laminits.
• Heavy bulls have a higher incidence .
• Hereditary factors.

Diagnosis

• The lesion is observed after cleaning.
• Under run horn should be pared away and a probe passed down the tract.
• The presence of thin, yellow pus indicates extensive pododermatitis into the navicular bursa or pedal joint, dark pus is usually from more superficial necrosis.

Treatment

• Removal of necrotic horn, corium and exuberant granulation.
• Salicylic acid, iodine compounds, copper sulphate, dilute sulphonamide suspensions can be used.
• Chlorhexidine ointment followed by a daily soaking of the bandaged foot in copper sulphate solution.
• waterproof bandage.
• Local antibiotic injection.

Prophylaxis

• Effective, regular trimming of feet.

·         SEPTIC LAMINITIS (SEPTIC TRAUMATIC PODODERMATITIS/ SUPPURATIVE LAMINITIS)

·         It results when a foreign body punctures the solar corium directly. Dirt and bacterial organisms accompany the foreign body up the traumatic pathway.

     

·         Dorsal region

·         The distal surface of the distal phalanx is most likely to be damaged. Osteomyelitis and pathological fracture may result of such a process

·         When the abscess is relieved, pus usually pinkish yellow, spurts forth as a jet.

·         Another type of lesion encountered in the dorsal region is small, hard to detect and caused by a sharp hared foreign body.

Sole, heel and junction region

·         The deep flexor tendon, navicular bursa or navicular bone may be contacted by the foreign body.

·         In superficial cases a tendency for the infection or pus to extend towards the heel bulb.

Plantar region

·         Penetration is into the dense heel cushion of white fibrous tissue.

Diagnosis

·         History

·         Examination of the foot

Treatment

·         In traumatic penetration the dark track must be followed down to its full depth. Discharges should be drained under pressure. Necrotic solar corium should be removed. Care must be taken to avoid healthy tissues, especially deep flexor tendon.

·         The defect should be dressed with sulphonamide or antibiotic powder preceded by superficial spraying with a spirit based chloramphenicol preparation, packed firmly with a sterile gauze swab and cotton wool. The foot is bandaged and a water proof dressing applied.

Complications

·         The navicular bone may undergo septic changes and loosely resorbed. The pedal joint may have a septic arthritis.

Prognosis

·         Good in cases of bruises.

 

Hoof avulsion

·         Detachment of hoof wall from underlying corium which involves quarter and heel of foot

• Etiology
• Trauma
• Clinical signs
• Varying degree of lameness with detachment of hoof wall
• Oedema of coronary band with fissure
• Pain on palpation
• Diagnosis
• Clinical signs  
• Radiography
• Fistulogram of draining tract
• Treatment

o    Removal of detached part with hoof knife or nipper

o    Coronary band suturing

o    Topical astringent (povidone iodine with sugar) with soft cotton bandage

o    Corrective shoeing

·         Luxation of patella

·         Patella out of trochlea.

·         Different permutations. 

·         Medial or lateral patella luxation. 

·         Patella alta (high; patellar tendon too long; often significantly contributing to luxation) or baja (low; rarely a problem). 

·         Rotating patella.

 

 

	DIAGNOSIS Lameness  “Shaking in” of the patella  Pain on hyperextension/flexion  Change(s) of anatomical relationships – insertion patellar tendon  Radiography  Orthopedic examination Pain on hyperextension/hyperflexion of the stifle joint Medial or lateral patella luxation Joint swelling (soft or firm) Crepitus

 

Treatment 

• Conservative management 
• Manual reduction patella 
• Surgical management 

Surgical treatment

• Deepening of the trochlea
• Trochlear wedge recession 
• Trochlear sulcoplasty (older technique) 
• Trochlear chondroplasty (<18 weeks of age) 
• Soft tissue stabilization 
• Release contracted side joint capsule (desmotomy) 
• Imbrication

Prognosis

• Good 
• 90% lame free after surgery
• Often incomplete reconstruction 

Sand crack

• Fissure in the wall of the hoof, parallel to the horn tubules, commencing at the coronet and extending a variable distance down the wall, usually to its plantar aspect. It may occur at any part of the wall and even in the bar, but its commonest situations are the toes of the hind foot and the inner quarter of the fore foot.
• Types

o    Superficial or deep, complete or incomplete, simple or complicated.

• Etiology
• Thinness of the hoof wall
• Excessive rasping of the wall
• Injury to the coronet
• Clinical signs
• Fissure in the hoof wall
• Oozing of blood, serum or pus
• Swelling of coronet
• Diagnosis
• Clinical signs
• Radiography
• Ultrasonography
• Treatment

o    Corrective shoeing

o    Application of hoof bandage or clasps or horseshoe nail.

o    Metal plate screwing, wiring or lacing the hoof wall.

o    Thinning/stripping the horn wall and removal of necrotic tissues.

o    pus and application of antiseptic foot baths, hoof repair material

o    Blistering the coronet region to stimulate the growth of new horn

• Prognosis for soundness
• Good.
• Guarded in long standing cases.  

HOOF DEFORMITIES

• Foot conformation depends on inherited and environmental factors.
• This is divided into 3 sub divisions
• general structural abnormalities
• abnormalities of skin
• abnormalities of horn

General structural abnomalities

1. SYNDACTYLY ( MULE FOOT)
1. Fusion of digits to a single hoof
2. Clinical features: 2 forms are recognized
1. teratologic (fusion of digits)
2. atavistic (failure of separation of the primordial elements)

2.POLYDACTYLY (POLYMELIA)

Increase in normal number of digits

Clinical features : the supranumery digit is usually located on the medial / lateral aspect of main digits 3 and 4.

2. MISCELLANEOUS
1. Flexed pastern or fetlock is the one of the most common congenital abnormalities.
2. Misshapen feet with synonyms of ‘splay toes’ or ‘spray toes’
3. ABNORMAL OF SKIN
1. Keratogenesis imperfecta hereditaria bovina.It involves the coronet and coronary corium. Interdigital hyperplasia
4. ABNORMALITIES OF HORN
1. Overgrowth of horn
2. Breed: More in light coloured hooves than in darkly pigmented hooves.
3. Seasonal factors: during prolonged wet weather horn becomes softened and dry weather hooves are much more likely to split and crack.
4. Nutritional factors: high protein diet accelerates the abnormal hoof growth of the horn.
5. Stress factors: horn of fore feet was harder than hind feet. Pregnancy, lactation disturbs bone mineral metabolism.
6. Individual variation
5. BEAK CLAW
1. Abnormal hoof in which dorsal wall is concave from coronet to toe and the weight bearing borders of the walls are convex from heel to toe.
2. The rotation of the digit ia primarily on a transverse axis.
6. CORKSCREW CLAW
1. An abnormal hoof with the lesion primarily in the lateral especially of the hindlimb, the horn of which takes the form of a coarse medially turning spiral. Rotation towards axial plane.
2. Treatment

1.      Foot trimming.

2.      Breeding of affected animals should be avoided.

                        8.         CLAW HYPOPLASIA

o    Reduction the size of one claw, usually bilateral and in the hindlimb.

o    Clinical features

o    The lateral claw of the hind foot is smaller than medial claw..

                        9.         SCISSOR FEET (CROSSED TOES, SLIPPER FOOT, STRADDLE CLAW)

o    Extensive overgrowth of both claws of a foot with overlapping.
CLINICAL FEATURE: severe overgrowth seen in the extreme form of chronic laminitis.

                        10.       REGULAR OVER GROWTH (STALL CLAW, STABLE CLAW, DEFORMED CLAW)

1.      Elongation of foot with increased length of walls and sole.

2.      Etiology: Animal confined to soft surfaces.

3.      Control: Animal should be regularly driven over hard surfaces.