Successful Treatment of a Coxofemoral Luxation in a Shetland Pony by Closed Reduction and Prolonged Immobilization Using a Full-Body Animal Rescue Sling.
Abstract: A 12-year-old, 170 kg, Shetland pony mare was presented with an acute severe right pelvic limb lameness and concurrent upward fixation of the right patella. The affected limb was rotated externally and adducted with a prominent greater trochanter and the right calcaneal tuber being more proximal than its left counterpart. Radiographic examination revealed complete dislocation of the right femoral head from the acetabular cavity in a dorsal and caudal direction. A closed reduction of the coxofemoral luxation was performed successfully under general anaesthesia. A full-body animal rescue and transportation sling (ARTS) was applied for the recovery. The reduction was followed by a right-sided medial patellar desmotomy. The pony was supported in the ARTS for a total of eight weeks combined with crossties for the first six weeks. Subsequently, the mare was discharged with instructions to slowly increase walking exercise over a period of two months before returning to her intended use. A follow-up after 22 months attested the successful treatment of a coxofemoral luxation by closed reduction and prolonged immobilization resulting in a regularly exercised pony without any residual lameness.
Copyright © 2020 Miriam Sprick and Christoph Koch.
Publication Date: 2020-01-03 PubMed ID: 31970012PubMed Central: PMC6969643DOI: 10.1155/2020/2424653Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research discusses the successful treatment of a Shetland pony with a dislocated hip (coxofemoral luxation) using a method of closed reduction and prolonged immobilization with the aid of a full-body animal rescue sling.
Problem Identification
- The subject of the study was a middle-aged, moderately sized Shetland pony mare who had a severe limp in her right hind leg.
- Alongside this, she also had an upward fixation of her right kneecap. To the researchers, her hind leg seemed to be twisted outward and turned inward at the knee, with noticeable bony protuberances in the hip and heel areas of her affected leg.
- Through radiographic analysis, the research team discovered that the pony’s right femoral head — the top of her thigh bone that fits into the hip socket — had completely dislocated from its usual position in the socket, and had moved upwards and backwards.
Treatment Procedure
- They decided to fix the issue via a closed reduction, a procedure that aims to manually realign the displaced bones without the need for surgery, which they carried out under general anaesthesia.
- To aid in the recovery process after the procedure, the research team used a full-body animal rescue and transportation sling (ARTS) — a piece of equipment that provides support and eases the movement of large animals.
- Aside from the luxation, the team also discovered issues with the right kneecap that warranted a subsequent surgical procedure — a right-sided medial patellar desmotomy — where the medial (inner side) part of the patella (kneecap) was cut.
Post-Treatment Care & Results
- After both procedures, the pony was kept immobilised and supported in the ARTS for a total of eight weeks, during which cross ties were used for additional stability for the first six weeks.
- Post-recovery, the mare was slowly reintroduced to walking exercises over two months before she was able to return to her previous routine.
- A follow-up nearly two years later confirmed the success of the treatment, as the pony was regularly exercised without any residual signs of lameness.
In conclusion, closed reduction, when combined with prolonged immobilization via a full-body ARTS, proved successful in treating coxofemoral luxation in a Shetland pony. This method may open up a new treatment avenue for large animals suffering from similar conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Sprick M, Koch C.
(2020).
Successful Treatment of a Coxofemoral Luxation in a Shetland Pony by Closed Reduction and Prolonged Immobilization Using a Full-Body Animal Rescue Sling.
Case Rep Vet Med, 2020, 2424653.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/2424653 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Swiss Institute for Equine Medicine (ISME), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Swiss Institute for Equine Medicine (ISME), Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
Conflict of Interest Statement
No conflicts of interest have been declared.
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This article includes 22 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
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