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  Discussion on Lame on flexion in prepurchase
Author Message
New Member:
Maureane

Posted on Friday, Aug 19, 2005 - 1:57 pm:

I would appreciate some advice on my current dilemma.

I have offered to buy a 3 yo filly. She has been saddled, but is not in any work, only turned out at pasture. She is a lovely individual that I hope will make an event horse for me. The price is quite fair. She has never been obviously lame, but did suffer a significant cut to her right front fetlock as a yearling. It looks well healed.

On the prepurchase exam she was sound on the longe at walk and trot. However, she was quite lame after flexion of the right front limb - not only as she trotted away from the examiner, but also trotting back. The left front showed no lameness after flexion. There was no edema, fetlock or carpal joint effusion, tenderness to palpation or sensitivity to hoof testers on the right front.

I asked to stop the exam at this point (before taking any radiographs). I plan to have her reexamined soon (about a month later) to see if she is persistently lame with flexion.

Could scarring related to an old injury cause this marked degree of lameness? If she is still lame on flexion what other exam whould you recommend? ultrasound? xrays? or would you discount her as a performance prospect based on the physical exam?

Thanks for your help.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Aug 20, 2005 - 9:39 am:

Maureane, which joint on the RF flexed lame?

It is possible that an old injury and the resulting scarring could cause such a reaction but if you pursue this horse I would carefully radiograph the area that flexes lame. She gets a discount from the flexion alone, but not a big one, see the article on localizing lameness for more on interpreting flexion tests.
DrO
New Member:
Maureane

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 23, 2005 - 3:29 pm:

It looks like the fetlock joint is the one that flexes lame, although I suppose you could get some stress on the coffin joint too maybe? We haven't done any nerve blocks or xrays at this point. I have a re-exam scheduled for this week. If she still flexes lame I guess I will go ahead and have the xrays taken. I'd hate to pass on her for something that isn't likely to be a predictor of future soundness.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 24, 2005 - 6:58 am:

One of the problems with the fetlock flexion test is that is does not mimic the natural stresses on the joints Maureane. The fetlock is naturally stressed in extension during running and jumping. If she still flexes lame, you could block the whole foot retest then block the ankle retest and you would know where to focus your radiographs. Any horse is a risk and in at least 2 studies a positive flexion in a sound horse with no history of problems was not predictive of future problems over the course of the study. I would also want to be able to get all the records from the horses regular vet. An unwillingness should be a yellow flag and perhaps cause for renegotiation.
DrO
New Member:
Maureane

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 24, 2005 - 10:52 pm:

The nerve blocks sound like a good idea.

The reexam has been rescheduled for next wednesday (due to schedule conflicts). I will let you know what happens.

I have known this filly since she was born and she truly has had no soundness problems that her owner/breeder knew about. However, she was just turned out in a field with other youngsters and not watched terribly closely, so there could have been something that went unnoticed.

Thanks,

Maureane
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