Supporting limb laminitis

Although the severity and duration of lameness are considered risk factors, the development of supporting limb laminitis (SLL) is still unpredictable, both in terms of timing and also with respect to which cases will succumb to it (and what degree of pain in the limb with the primary condition is necessary for SLL development). Despite making significant advances in our ability to treat complicated fractures and other painful limb conditions in horses, SLL remains the primary limiting factor to treatment success in these cases. This form of laminitis tends to be commonly associated with rapid and severe failure of the lamellae, with subsequent distal displacement (‘sinking’) of the distal phalanx (DP) within the hoof capsule. The incidence has been estimated at approximately 10–15% of horses that present for painful limb problems (or require limb casts) in North American studies, however, the threat of SLL likely leads to a reduced propensity to even attempt treatment in many complicated painful limb conditions, with many of these horses instead being euthanased ...