Ultrasonographic abnormalities detected in the sacroiliac area in twenty cases of upper hindlimb lameness.

Authors: Tomlinson J E, Sage A M, Turner T A

Journal: Equine veterinary journal

DOI: 10.2746/042516403775467540 PubMed: 12553462Log in to save

Summary

# Ultrasonographic Abnormalities in the Sacroiliac Region Associated with Upper Hindlimb Lameness The sacroiliac area remains notoriously difficult to evaluate clinically due to its deep muscular covering, yet it is frequently implicated in performance-related lameness. Tomlinson and colleagues used ultrasonography to characterise soft tissue and bone surface changes in 20 cases of upper hindlimb lameness, establishing a foundation for interpreting sacroiliac pathology in a region where imaging has historically been limited. Key ultrasonographic findings included ligamentous thickening, fibrillation of articular cartilage, and periosteal reactions, with several cases demonstrating bilateral involvement despite unilateral lameness presentation. These findings suggest that ultrasonography can reliably detect structural changes within the sacroiliac region and may help differentiate sacroiliac involvement from other sources of hindlimb dysfunction. For practitioners, this work validates ultrasound as a practical diagnostic tool when sacroiliac pathology is suspected, though integration with clinical findings, flexion tests and response to local anaesthesia remains essential for confident diagnosis.

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Practical Takeaways

•Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic tool for evaluating soft tissue and bone surface changes in horses with hindlimb lameness when pelvic region pathology is suspected
•Understanding the ultrasonographic appearance of sacroiliac abnormalities can help practitioners identify the source of upper hindlimb lameness that may be missed by other imaging modalities
•This work provides foundational reference information for interpreting sacroiliac ultrasound images in clinical practice

Key Findings

•Ultrasonography can detect soft tissue, articular cartilage, and bone surface abnormalities in the sacroiliac region
•The study established ultrasonographic abnormality patterns in 20 horses with upper hindlimb lameness localized to the sacroiliac area
•Limited baseline data existed on normal ultrasonographic appearance of the equine sacroiliac region prior to this study

Conditions Studied

upper hindlimb lamenesssacroiliac region abnormalities

Related References

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