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Sidewinder gait in horses.

Authors :
Aleman, Monica
Berryhill, Emily
Woolard, Kevin
Easton‐Jones, Charlotte A.
Kozikowski‐Nicholas, Tania
Dyson, Sue
Kilcoyne, Isabelle
Source :
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Sep2020, Vol. 34 Issue 5, p2122-2131. 10p.
Publication Year :
2020

Abstract

Background: Sidewinder gait in horses is poorly understood and characterized by walking with the trunk and pelvic limbs drifting to 1 side. Hypothesis/objectives: To report causes, clinical and diagnostic features. Animals Horses examined at 2 institutions. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study (2000‐2019). Cases with sidewinder gait, neurological and orthopedic examination, and diagnostic work up or postmortem evaluation were included. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results: Twenty‐four horses (mean age 18.9 years) of various breeds and both sexes were included. Onset was acute (N = 10), subacute (N = 6), and insidious (N = 8). Electromyography and muscle biopsy supported neurologic disease and further aided in localizing site of lesion (N = 9/9). Neurologic causes included dynamic thoracolumbar spinal cord compression (N = 5), equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (N = 4, confirmed and presumed [2 each]), thoracic myelopathy of unknown etiology (N = 4), gliosis (N = 2), and thrombosis of thoracic spinal cord segments (N = 1). Non‐neurologic causes included osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral joint (N = 4), multiple displaced pelvic fractures (N = 2), bilateral rupture of the ligamentum capitis ossis femoris (N = 1), and severe myonecrosis of multiple pelvic limb muscles (N = 1). Case fatality was 79%. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Sidewinder gait is usually observed in older horses and can have neurologic or musculoskeletal etiologies. Electromyography can be used as a diagnostic aid to determine neurologic versus non‐neurologic disease and further localize those of neurologic origin. The condition often has a poor prognosis for function and life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
08916640
Volume :
34
Issue :
5
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
146079240
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15870