Very Common
OTHER DIAGNOSES CONSIDERED
Other conditions or ailments that might also need to be ruled out by a vet.
Diagnosis
Conditions or ailments that are the cause of a problem that you see - your observation.
Your vet may diagnose
Trochanteric Bursitis, Whorlbone
Summary
This is an obscure syndrome of inflammation of a fluid filled sac (bursa) and associated muscle over the greater trochanter of the hip, near the hip joint.
It is seen more often in Standardbred Trotters and can be seen in flat racing horses and in horses working heavily off of their hindquarters in deeper footing. It can also develop as a result of a fall onto the area.
It is often seen as a second source of lameness in limbs that are lame for some other reason, especially hock arthritis.
Diagnosis may be difficult. A presumptive case might consist of an undiagnosed, apparently upper limb lameness with a shortened gait and obvious pain response over the bony feeling trochanter. Blocking of the bursa can help differentiate the lameness.
I have limited experience with this diagnosis. Many times I have injected the gluteal region because I got a pain response there that I thought was significant but I never defined the bursa as a source of pain.
It is seen more often in Standardbred Trotters and can be seen in flat racing horses and in horses working heavily off of their hindquarters in deeper footing. It can also develop as a result of a fall onto the area.
It is often seen as a second source of lameness in limbs that are lame for some other reason, especially hock arthritis.
Diagnosis may be difficult. A presumptive case might consist of an undiagnosed, apparently upper limb lameness with a shortened gait and obvious pain response over the bony feeling trochanter. Blocking of the bursa can help differentiate the lameness.
I have limited experience with this diagnosis. Many times I have injected the gluteal region because I got a pain response there that I thought was significant but I never defined the bursa as a source of pain.
my vet's role
Diagnostics Used
These are tests that might be helpful to make this diagnosis or further characterize the condition.
Treatments May Include
These treatments might be used to help resolve or improve this condition.
PROGNOSIS AND RELEVANT FACTORS
The prognosis is guarded. This lameness tends to recur.my role
I might observe
You might make these observations when a horse has this condition.
Skills I Might Need
I might need these skills if my horse has this diagnosis.
Questions To Ask Your Vet:
- What diagnostics can be run that will confirm this diagnosis?
- Why do you think the horse developed this problem?
- Do you think there are other underlying problems?
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health
Related References:
Baxter, GM ed. Adams & Stashak's Lameness in Horses. 6th ed. Ames: Blackwell Publishing 2011.
Higgins AJ, Snyder JR eds. The Equine Manual. 2nd Ed. Edinburgh: Elsevier Saunders 2006.