The sacroiliac joint is the articulation between the horse’s hind leg and spine and servesas a major point of force transfer between the hind leg and the vertebral column, as theleg takes weight during the stance phase of the stride. Injuries to the sacroiliac joint region fall into two main categories: Primary SacroiliacInjury where pain is caused by a direct trauma to the area e.g. a fall that causes ligamentinjury or sprain or a fracture of the associated bone and Secondary Sacroiliac Injury,where the horse develops sacroiliac joint pain and disease secondary to lameness inanother part of the hind leg.Common signs of sacroiliac joint pain include shortened hind limb stride, a “bunny-hopping”gait or the horse becoming disunited at canter, being reluctant or refuse to strike off with the correct canter lead leg.The diagnosis of sacroiliac joint disease is often complicated. Exclusion of other causesof lameness or bunny-hopping e.g. in the lower leg is important and typically requiresnerve blocks. Blocking the sacroiliac joint region is possible but the proximity of thesciatic nerve, near to the caudal edge of the joint, means there is a small risk inadvertentanaesthesia of the sciatic when blocking the sacroiliac joint block.
Equine
Presented by Fran James
Associate and Consultant at Newmarket Equine Hospital
Presented at the London Vet Show 2019
RVC Equine Theatre 2
Friday, 15 November at 1:20pm