Types of musculoskeletal trauma
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Wounds and lacerations
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Skin
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Deep structures (tendon, ligament, joint, bone)
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Vascular injury
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Nerve injury
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Fracture
Patient assessment
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Horses may be frantic and distressed following trauma
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Use appropriate restraint to keep you and your patient safe during assessment
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Use sedation
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Most equine sedatives also provide analgesia as well as provide chemical restraint
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Will decrease horse's anxiety for thorough assessment
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Anatomy
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Knowledge of anatomy is critical to appropriate assessment
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Appropriate identification of affected structures
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Determines necessity of immediate treatment
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Will dictate method of stabilization for transport
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Anatomic relationships very important
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Integument
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Muscle
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Vascular and nerve
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Tendon/ligament
• Synovial structures: joints, tendon sheaths, bursa
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Bone
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Location, location, location
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Small wounds in the wrong location can be life-threatening
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Based on location some fractures cannot be repaired
Integument
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Lacerations and wounds
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When involving only the skin, subcutaneous tissue and fascia they usually will heal well
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Some may require extensive wound care management long term
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Burns
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As in human burn patients these require extensive management locally and systemically
Muscle
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Muscle damage is confined to the areas above the carpus and tarsus
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Not necessarily life or performance threatening unless extensive
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Myositis can be a bigger concern than direct trauma
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Clostridial Myositis
Vascular injury
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Laceration of large vessels can result in exsanguination
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Damage to major blood supply to the limb can result in loss of the limb – either by transection or blunt trauma
Nerve injury
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Loss of sensation
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Can return over time
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Loss of function
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Can lose function of a limb which is life-threatening
• Examples: suprascapular, radial, or femoral nerve paralysis
Tendons and ligaments
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Major supporting structures of the lower limb
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Injury can be life and performance threatening
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Transection of the major tendons and ligaments can have a diagnostic stance when weight bearing
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Deep digital flexor tendon
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Toe flips up
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Superficial digital flexor tendon
