Sacrococcygeal luxation and complete tail amputation following a tail pull injury in a horse.

A 17-year-old Quarter horse developed a serious injury involving the bones of its tail, leading to loss of function and sensation of the tail. Due to the traumatic luxation (dislocation) of certain vertebrae and complications like hematoma (localized bleeding outside blood vessels), the tail was eventually amputated. This kind of tail injury and subsequent tail amputation is rarely reported.

Details of the Case Study

• The research revolves around a specific case of a 17-year-old Quarter horse mare. She was brought into medical care because of a severe tail injury characterized by a traumatic luxation or dislocation.
• This injury involved the fifth sacral and the first coccygeal vertebrae – two key points within the spine/tailbone structure of the animal. This displacement of vertebrae resulted in significant loss of sensation and motor function of the tail. This means the horse could neither feel nor move its tail.
• Additionally, the injury was so severe that perfusion – the process of a body delivering blood to a capillary bed in its biological tissue – was notably disturbed in this horse’s tail.

Complications and Treatment

• The case exhibited complications. An associated tailhead hematoma was observed. Hematoma is a medical term for a collection of blood, usually clotted, outside of a blood vessel. It appears due to the wall of a blood vessel wall, artery, vein, or capillary, being damaged and blood escaping into nearby tissues. In this case, the hematoma was present at the base of the tail, making the case more complex to manage.
• Given the severity and complications associated with the injury, the proposed and executed treatment was tail amputation at the level of the luxation. This was done to prevent further suffering and possibly fatal complications for the horse.

Context in Veterinary Literature

• The study highlighted that tail amputations resulting from such tail pull injuries at the sacrococcygeal junction are sparingly reported in veterinary literature. Hence, this research provides valuable insights into the management of such rare but serious cases.
• This information is invaluable for equine vets and care providers, adding to existing knowledge about such injuries, their complex treatment involving amputation, and providing enlightenment about its relative scarcity in the field.