LAMENESS not so lame anymore…
DEFINITION
An abnormal stance or gait caused by either a
structural or a functional disorder of the
locomotor system.
Most common cause of loss of use in horses.
60-70% of lameness are associated with
forelimbs or foot/ hoof.
Lameness can be caused by:
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Trauma
Congenital or acquired disorders
Infection/ Inflammation
Metabolic disorders
Nervous and circulatory system
disease
Predisposing Factor:
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Physical immaturity (premature or
dysmature foals, and training older
foals before maturity)
Preexisting developmental orthopedic
disease (eg, osteochondrosis, flexural
limb and angular limb deformities)
Poor conformation
Improper hoof balance or shoeing
Failure to adequately condition
performance horses
Monotonous repetitive stresses on
bones, tendons, ligaments, and joints
in performance horses
Hard, slippery, or rocky surfaces upon
which horses work
Extremely athletic activities
EXAMINATION PROCEDURES
 Medical History
 Preliminary Examination
Visual appraisal of the horse at rest:
-Conformation
-Balance and weight-bearing
-Any evidence of injury or stress
 Detailed Physical Examination
1. Thorough hands-on exam
Approach:
Anterior→left lateral→posterior→right
lateral
Go by systems:
Head & neck→body→limbs & gait→genitalia
2.
3.
Apply hoof testers to the feet
Evaluation of the horse in motion
 Walking and trotting
 Observing the horse from the front,
back and both side views
 Notes any deviations in gait:
-winging or paddling
-fail to land squarely on all four feet
-unnatural shifting of weight from
one limb to another
-shortening of the stride
-irregular foot placement
-head bobbing
-stiffness
(FL: Head Bobbing, HL: Asymmetrical
raise of the rump)
4. Joint flexion tests
The action of flexion aggravated the
pain in the joint hence increasing the
degree or severity of lameness.
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS
1) Nerve and joint blocks
(Nerve Blocks)
- Palmar digital/heel block
(Desensitise the back of the foot, frog,
navicular structures and most of the
sole)
- Abaxial sesamoid block
(Abolishes sensation below the fetlock
in the foot and pastern)
- Low four point block (low six in the
hind limb)
(Abolishing sensation to the fetlock
and below)
- High four point block
(Abolishes sensation from the cannon
area down to the foot)
(Joint Blocks (Synovial Blocks)
- Coffin joint
- Fetlock joint
- Hock joint
- Stifle joint
2)
3)
4)
5)
Radiographs
Ultrasound (sonography)
Arthroscopy
Blood, synovial (joint) fluid and tissue
samples
6) Scintigraphy (nuclear scanning)
The AAEP guidelines explain the grading
system this way:
Grade
0
Lameness not perceptible under
any circumstances.
Not Lame
1
Lameness is difficult to observe
and is not consistently apparent,
regardless of circumstances (e.g.
under saddle, circling, inclines,
hard surface, etc.).
Lame inconsistent at any condition.
2
Lameness is difficult to observe at
a walk or when trotting in a
straight line but consistently
apparent under certain
3
4
5
circumstances (e.g. weightcarrying, circling, inclines, hard
surface, etc.).
Lame easily seen during exercise,
but difficult during simple task.
Lame inconsistent at trot.
Lameness is consistently
observable at a trot under all
circumstances.
Lame consistent at trot
Lameness is obvious at a walk.
Lame consistent at walk
Lameness produces minimal
weight bearing in motion and/or at
rest or a complete inability to
move.
Weight bearing
*TREATMENT depends on aetiology,
condition and severity.