Fetlock Lameness in Sports Horses: What Is New?

Incomplete sagittal fractures of the dorsoproximal aspect of the proximal phalanx have been well-documented in Thoroughbred racehorses and have also been described in sports horses. The purpose of this study is to describe the history, signalment, clinical signs and diagnostic imaging findings in lame sports horses with evidence of subchondral bone trauma of the proximal phalanx examined at the Animal Health Trust between January 2001 and December 2010.

Incomplete sagittal fractures and other subchondral bone injury of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx, confirmed using MRI, n=8

History and signalment There were 8 horses (5 Warmbloods, 2 Arabians and 1 pony), with an age range of 7-14 years (median 11 years), used for dressage (4), showjumping (2) and endurance (2). Height ranged from 145 – 173 cm (mean 157 cm, median 151 cm) and bodyweight from 373 – 632 kg (mean 507 kg, median 491 kg). Four horses had unilateral forelimb lameness, 1 had unilateral hindlimb lameness and 3 horses had bilateral forelimb lameness (only evident after diagnostic analgesia of the lamer limb). Three horses had been lame for < 1 month, 2 for between 1 and 2 months, and 3 horses had shown intermittent lameness for 3 to 6 months. Two horses had shown sporadic, severe lameness if worked hard and 1 horse showed lameness that deteriorated with work […]