AAEP Annual Convention Salt Lake City 2014
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Clinical Hindlimb Lameness is Frequently Associated With Significant Compensatory Forelimb Lameness

Author(s):

S. Maliye, J.M. Marshall,

In: AAEP Annual Convention - Salt Lake City, 2014 by American Association of Equine Practitioners
Updated:
DEC 10, 2014
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Compensatory ipsilateral forelimb lameness commonly occurs with hindlimb lameness and must be ruled out as a cause of forelimb lameness before blocking. Observing the effect of hindlimb blocking on forelimb movement can assist in determining the response. Authors’ address: Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, U.K. e-mail: sylvia.maliye@hotmail.com.

1. Introduction

Compensatory forelimb lameness associated with hindlimb lameness has not been fully characterized in a significant number of clinical cases. Therefore, we aimed to describe and quantify the compensatory effects of naturally occurring hindlimb lameness.

2. Materials and Methods

Data from lameness investigations using an inertial sensor-based system with positive response to hindlimb diagnostic anesthesia were reviewed. Horses were grouped into (1) clinical hindlimb lameness only (HL, n = 16, 60%), (2) HL and ipsilateral forelimb lameness (IFL, n = 9, 33%), or (3) HL and contralateral forelimb lameness (CFL, n = 2, 7%). The change in measures of head (HDMax, HDMin, HMA) and pelvic (PDMax, PDMin, PDA) movement following diagnostic anesthesia was determined. The data were analyzed to determine the effect of abolishing hindlimb lameness using a paired t-test or signed rank test as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. 

3. Results

In the HL and IFL groups, the abolition of HL significantly decreased ipsilateral forelimb (-38%, -41%) and increased contralateral forelimb movement asymmetry (+36%, +131%). A significant decrease in the difference in minimum head height (HDMin) occurred in both groups (-69%, -71%); a significant decrease in maximum head height (HD-Max) occurred in the IFL group only (-69%).

4. Discussion

We identified a common and significant effect of hindlimb lameness on forelimb and head movement in horses with and without clinical forelimb lameness.

Acknowledgments

Conflict of Interest

The Authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Affiliation of the authors at the time of publication

Weipers Centre Equine Hospital, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, U.K

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