Equine Lameness and Neurology Flashcards

Which nerve block is used to desensitize the palmar fetlock and pastern region in the horse?

Answer: Abaxial sesamoid nerve block

The abaxial sesamoid nerve block desensitizes the palmar and plantar fetlock, pastern, and foot regions.

A horse with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) most commonly shows which clinical sign?

Answer: Asymmetric ataxia and muscle atrophy

EPM typically causes asymmetric ataxia, weakness, and focal muscle atrophy due to multifocal CNS lesions.

What is the most reliable imaging modality for evaluating the navicular bone and surrounding soft tissues in equine foot lameness?

Answer: MRI

MRI provides superior soft tissue and bone detail of the foot, including the navicular bone, impar ligament, and deep digital flexor tendon.

Stringhalt in horses is characterized by which gait abnormality?

Answer: Exaggerated involuntary hindlimb flexion during forward movement

Stringhalt is characterized by sudden, exaggerated, involuntary flexion of one or both hindlimbs during movement.

Which structure is most commonly injured in horses diagnosed with hindlimb proximal suspensory desmitis?

Answer: Origin of the suspensory ligament at the proximal palmar metacarpus

Proximal suspensory desmitis involves injury to the origin of the suspensory ligament at the proximal palmar or plantar cannon bone.

In the AAEP lameness grading scale, a grade 3 lameness is best described as:

Answer: Consistently observable lameness at trot under all circumstances

AAEP grade 3 lameness is consistently observable at the trot under all circumstances, including straight lines and circles.

Wobbler syndrome (cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy) in horses is most definitively diagnosed by which method?

Answer: Myelography or CT myelography

Myelography or CT myelography demonstrates spinal cord compression at the affected cervical vertebral site.