Received: 27 February 2023 | Accepted: 25 September 2023 DOI: 10.1111/eve.13904_1


C A S E R E POR T Rib fracture as a cause of hindlimb lameness in a horse


Pablo Jimenez-Rihuete | Simon A. Staempfli | Mathew Waterhouse | Luis M. Rubio-Martínez Sussex Equine Hospital , Ashington , UK


Correspondence: Luis M. Rubio-Martínez Email: luis.rubiomartinez@hotmail.com


SUMMARY


A 2-year-old racing Thoroughbred gelding in training was presented with moderate (6/10) right hindlimb lameness unresponsive to regional anaesthesia of the right hindlimb. Gamma scintigraphic examination revealed severe, focal, in- creased radio-pharmaceutical uptake over the dorsal aspect of the right 18th rib, which had an abnormal contour (Figure 1). Ultrasonographic examination of this area confirmed the pres- ence of a complete, displaced fracture of the proximal as- pect of the right 18th rib. Local infiltration with anaesthetic solution around the fracture site at the right 18th right rib


(10 mL cranial and 10 mL caudal to the fracture site) abolished the right hindlimb lameness. A diagnosis of rib fracture causing moderate ipsilateral hindlimb lameness was made. The horse returned to walking exercise after 12 weeks of rest and was reported to be sound on the right hindlimb 12 months after presentation. This case report demonstrates that caudal rib fractures should be considered as a possible cause of hindlimb lameness. The use of local diagnostic anaesthesia around the rib fracture site can aid localisation of the origin of lameness.


K E YWORDS horse , lameness , rib fracture , local anaesthesia


Key points


• Caudal rib fractures can cause hindlimb lameness in horses.


FIGURE 1 Dorsal scintigraphic view of the caudal thoracic-lumbar area. Note the focal intense IRU over the right 18th rib at the site of contact with the 17th rib. Note the abnormal course that the fractured right 18th rib follows.


284 | © 2023 EVJ Ltd.


• Scintigraphic and ultrasonographic examinations were used to achieve a diagnosis of displaced fracture of the 18th rib.


• Perilesional infiltration with local anaesthesia can be used to confirm the clinical relevance of the fracture.


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Equine Vet Educ. 2024;36:284.


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