Lameness Exam

The equine lameness evaluation video is authored by Professor Gary M. Baxter, VMD, MS, DACVS. This video series describes and illustrates how to perform a lameness evaluation in a lame horse. Examination of a horse at the walk, straight trot, and when circled is demonstrated together with all flexion tests of the forelimbs and hindlimbs. Proper positioning for diagnostic flexion tests is described and demonstrated. Examples of specific types of musculoskeletal abnormalities (upward fixation of the patella, stringhalt, peroneus tertius rupture, fibrotic myopathy, forelimb paddling, and hind limb plaiting) are demonstrated using clinical cases. In addition, 7 horses with forelimb lameness and 7 horses with hind limb lameness problems have been included to demonstrate what clinical parameters the author looks for when observing horses with forelimb vs hindlimb lameness. Procedures covered: Gait evaluation Walk Straight trot Circle — hard ground Circle — soft ground Flexion tests — forelimb Phalangeal, fetlock, distal limb, carpal Elbow, shoulder, upper limb, full limb Navicular stress test Focal pressure Flexion tests — hindlimb Distal hindlimb flexion Tarsal, stifle Hip/upper limb Subjective lameness evaluation Paddling (outward deviation) Plaiting (inward deviation/weaving) Specific lameness cases Upward fixation of the patella Stringhalt Peroneus tertius rupture Fibrotic myopathy Forelimb lameness Bilateral laminitis Bilateral extensor process fracture Bilateral navicular syndrome Bilateral coffin joint OA Bilateral navicular disease Bilateral foot lameness Hindlimb lameness cases Bilateral stifle SCL (subchondral cystic lesions) Distal tarsal OA Digital sheath tenosynovitis Stifle OCD Stifle meniscal tear Post MT-4 removal Proximal suspensory desmitis Fore- and hindlimb lameness Coffin fracture Fetlock