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Orthopedic Emergencies: Specific Conditions - Coggle Diagram
Orthopedic Emergencies: Specific Conditions
Femoral nerve paralysis
Diagnostics/Clinical Appearance
Mostly a calf problem
patellar luxation
poor weight gain
May be damaged during dystocia
Loss of quadriceps function
calf cannot extend limb for weight bearing
Patella is slack
Prognosis
Fair to good in a calf
colostrum management is essential
Guarded to poor in an adult
Obturator paralysis
seen immediately after calving
often related to calf hip lock
Diagnosis/Clinical Presentation
Adductor dysfunction → Splayed legs
Base wide stance or may not be able to stand without assistance
When limb placed properly, animal can weight bear
Fetlocks may knuckle
Stabilization needed: Move to area with good footing
Treatment: hobbling back legs to prevent splits
Prognosis
Guarded to poor
Can lead to hip dislocation
High risk of permanent damage d/t ongoing damage to muscle/nerves
Breakdown injury (racetrack)
Diagnosis/Clinical appearance
Suspensory or fetlock breakdown
Fetlock is hyperextended and drops low
Prognosis
Within 6-12 hours
prognosis very poor d/t blood flow damage
Ends in limb amputation or euthanasia
Why do breakdown injuries lead to tissue necrosis?
fetlock is hyperextended, vessels are stretched almost to the breaking point
When arteries are stretched too far or are traumatized
spasm shut
can lead to loss of distal blood flow and necrosis
Gastrocnemius tendon rupture
Clinical appearance/diagnosis: Hyperflexed hock
Prognosis: poor - hard to stabilize the limb
SDF tendon luxation
Diagnosis/Clinical Presentation
Fetlock drops
Usually on lateral aspect
associated with marked swelling over the point of the hock
Acutely and severely lame
Prognosis
Guarded for soundness and performance
Residual mechanical lameness (jerky motion) may remain
Horses may not be able to jump or race
Persistent medial luxations = poorer prognosis
Hip luxation
Diagnosis/Clinical presentation
Caudodorsal
difference in distance between pins and hooks
hip swelling
can stand
asymmetry of the bony prominences or via rectal palpation
With dorsal luxation:
limb is cranioventral
down cow
can feel head of femur on rectal shortened
hock turned inward
toe drags
Prognosis is poor
Joint luxation (hock, fetlock)
Diagnosis/Clinical presentation
Can look anatomically normal
may have angulation of limb
painful on palpation
need radiographs to confirm
Usually acutely and severely lame
Rare in large animals
exception hip luxation in cattle
Olecranon fracture
Diagnosis/Clinical presentation
Dropped elbow with a flexed carpus
(looks like radial nerve paralysis)
Stabilization Needed
Light bandage from ground up to as high as possible past the elbow
palmar/caudal splint
non-weight bearing lameness
Fracture
Septic joint
Foot abscess
Radial nerve paralysis
Diagnosis/Clinical Appearance
Dropped elbow, disuse muscle atrophy
Carpus and fetlock maintained in partial flexion
Unable to flex shoulder or extend lower part of limb
Severe to non-weight bearing lameness with toe dragging may be seen
Stabilization needed
prevent fetlock abrasion
Bandaging
splinting
casting
Prognosis
Fair to good
If skin sensation totally lost the prognosis is guarded
If condition persists for more than 2 weeks, damage is likely permanent