Vertebral fracture, extensor hypertonia of thoracic limbs, and paralysis of pelvic limbs (Schiff-Sherrington syndrome) in an Arabian foal.

The abstract describes a case study of an Arabian foal with symptoms of the Schiff-Sherrington syndrome, a disorder characterized by rigid forelimbs and paralyzed hindlimbs, correlating to a vertebral injury or fracture at a specific location of the spine (T15), determined through postmortem analysis.

Case Description

• The study reports on an Arabian foal which was unable to move or stand (recumbent) for 4 days prior to examination.
• The primary symptoms observed included extensor rigidity – a condition characterized by increased tension and reduced flexibility – in the thoracic limbs, and hypotonic paralysis – a form of paralysis marked by reduced muscle tone, in the pelvic limbs of the foal.

Radiographic Experience and Discovery

• Survey radiography, a procedure that uses X-rays to view structures within the body, was employed to better understand the cause of these symptoms.
• The radiography showed an anomaly at T15, a specific location in the spine. The image gave the impression of a compression fracture or a hemivertebra – a condition where one side of a vertebra fails to develop normally, causing the bone to be shaped like a wedge or triangle.

Postmortem Examination

• After the death of the foal, the researchers performed a postmortem examination, in which they found a fracture in the T15 vertebra.
• This finding strengthened the hypothesis that the foal was suffering from Schiff-Sherrington Syndrome, as the syndrome is generally associated with thoracic limb extensor hypertonia and paraplegia, typically resulting from acute thoracolumbar trauma.
• Thus, the symptoms observed along with the postmortem discovery of a T15 vertebral fracture were indicative of the foal having been afflicted with Schiff-Sherrington Syndrome.

Conclusion

• Through this case study, an association is demonstrated between thoracic limb extensor hypertonia in conjunction with paraplegia and an acute thoracolumbar trauma, such as the vertebral fracture found in the foal.
• Findings provide important insights into recognizing and diagnosing Schiff-Sherrington Syndrome in Arabian foals, specifically through the use of radiography and symptoms observation.