ABSTRACT
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Previous studies have suggested that agreement between equine veterinarians subjectively evaluating lameness in horses is low. These studies were limited to small numbers of horses, evaluating movement on the treadmill or to evaluating previously-recorded videotape. OBJECTIVES: To estimate agreement between equine practitioners performing lameness evaluations in horses in the live, over ground setting. METHODS: 131 mature horses were evaluated for lameness by 2-5 clinicians (mean 3.2) with a weighted-average of 18.7 years of experience. Clinicians graded each limb using the AAEP lameness scale by first watching the horse trot in a straight line only and then after full lameness evaluation. Agreement was estimated by calculation of Fleiss' (kappa). Evaluators agreed if they picked the same limb as lame or not lame regardless of the severity of perceived lameness. RESULTS: After only evaluating the horse trot in a straight line clinicians agreed whether a limb was lame or not 76.6% of the time (kappa= 0.44). After full lameness evaluation clinicians agreed whether a limb was lame or not 72.9% of the time (kappa= 0.45). Agreement on forelimb lameness was slightly higher than on hindlimb lameness. When the mean AAEP lameness score was >1.5 clinicians agreed whether or not a limb was lame 93.1% of the time (kappa= 0.86), but when the mean score was < or = 1.5 they agreed 61.9% (kappa= 0.23) of the time. When given the task of picking whether or not the horse was lame and picking the worst limb after full lameness evaluation, clinicians agreed 51.6% (kappa= 0.37) of the time. CONCLUSIONS: For horses with mild lameness subjective evaluation of lameness is not very reliable. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: A search for and the development of more objective and reliable methods of lameness evaluation is justified and should be encouraged and supported.
Subject(s)
Horse Diseases/diagnosis , Lameness, Animal/diagnosis , Animals , Horses , Observer VariationABSTRACT
Formalin was injected into an ethmoidal hematoma in an 18-year-old Arabian gelding. Abnormal neurologic signs were observed within minutes of the injection. The horse did not respond favorably to medical treatment of the neurologic signs and was euthanatized. Postmortem examination revealed erosion and necrosis of the ventral cribriform plate, which appeared to have allowed the injected formalin to reach the rostral portion of the frontal lobe of the brain. Endoscopy and radiography had been performed prior to euthanasia, but neither delineated the cribriform lesion. Before treating large progressive ethmoidal hematomas with formalin, it may be beneficial to perform computed tomography to assess the extent of damage caused by the lesion.
Subject(s)
Ethmoid Sinus , Formaldehyde/adverse effects , Formaldehyde/therapeutic use , Hematoma/veterinary , Horse Diseases/drug therapy , Paranasal Sinus Diseases/veterinary , Animals , Ethmoid Bone/pathology , Fatal Outcome , Formaldehyde/administration & dosage , Hematoma/drug therapy , Hematoma/pathology , Hematoma/surgery , Horse Diseases/pathology , Horse Diseases/surgery , Horses , Injections, Intralesional/veterinary , Male , Paranasal Sinus Diseases/drug therapy , Paranasal Sinus Diseases/pathology , Paranasal Sinus Diseases/surgeryABSTRACT
We report use of esophagomyotomy and esophagopexy to create a diverticulum for relief of chronic type I esophageal stricture in 2 horses. After esophagomyotomy, the mucosa was dissected free from the muscularis for approximately 180 degrees around the myotomy. Then, the tunica muscularis of esophagus was sutured to the sternocephalicus muscle ventrally and the periesophageal tissues dorsally to create a diverticulum without disruption of the esophageal mucosa. Clinical signs of esophageal stricture were relieved, and the horses were fed normal diets without further esophageal obstruction.
