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Summary: A 9‐year‐old donkey jenny (212 kg) presented with an acute, nonweight‐bearing left forelimb lameness of 24‐ to 36‐h duration. The limb was held in flexion and abduction, with the toe above the ground, and was unable to be manually straightened. There was significant palpable swelling along the medial aspect of the elbow joint. Radiographic evaluation revealed a medial luxation of the elbow joint with rupture of the medial collateral ligament. Closed reduction was accomplished under injectable anaesthesia without complication. The patient was weight‐bearing and comfortable on the limb immediately upon recovery from anaesthesia. The jenny was tied and kept standing for 60 days. Full limb bandages, splints (extending proximal to the scapula), hobbles, NSAIDs and cold laser therapy were utilised, decreased and discontinued. At 74 days, a rehab programme was initiated. At 8 months post‐injury, the patient was not lame and was back to her previous level of exercise. Although elbow luxation has been described as having a guarded prognosis, there has now been success in 4/5 (80%) reported cases when treatment has been attempted. Closed reduction without surgical intervention in adult animals with elbow luxation can be successful, likely dependent on the level of associated injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A 19‐year‐old Quarter Horse gelding was evaluated for respiratory distress and a rapidly enlarging retropharyngeal mass. Initial evaluation revealed severe respiratory distress, and a large, firm mass, visibly appreciable as 12 × 12 cm, in the left retropharyngeal and perilaryngeal region, with surrounding left and right retropharyngeal swelling. No significant abnormalities were present on complete blood count and serum biochemistry analyses. Endoscopy revealed severe pharyngeal collapse restricting airflow without gross abnormalities of the pharyngeal mucosa other than inflammation and irritation. A multilobular retropharyngeal mass, diffusely heterogeneous in echogenicity, was present adjacent to, but not occluding, the carotid artery as assessed by ultrasonography. Initial needle aspirate suggested lymphoma. Tissue biopsy and histopathology confirmed a round cell tumour. A temporary tracheotomy was performed to provide respiratory relief, and the horse was managed on oral antibiotics and anti‐inflammatory medications while awaiting histopathological results. The decision was made to humanely euthanise the horse after biopsy results indicated lymphoma. Definitive diagnosis of T cell rich, large B cell lymphoma was made by combination of cytology, immunohistochemistry and molecular clonality PCR (PARR) testing. Lymphoma should be considered in horses with focal masses of the retropharyngeal region. Although treatment was not pursued, PARR testing was successful in this case and may be helpful for accurate characterisation of lymphoma in horses to more precisely determine prognosis and the most effective treatment plans, as it has been in human patients and small animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reasons for performing study To gain insight into the pathophysiology of equine lumbar vertebral fractures in racehorses. Objectives To characterise equine lumbar vertebral fractures in California racehorses. Study design Retrospective case series and prospective case-control study. Methods Racehorse post mortem reports and jockey injury reports were retrospectively reviewed. Vertebral specimens from 6 racehorses affected with lumbar vertebral fractures and 4 control racehorses subjected to euthanasia for nonspinal fracture were assessed using visual, radiographic, computed tomography and histological examinations. Results Lumbar vertebral fractures occurred in 38 Quarter Horse and 29 Thoroughbred racehorses over a 22 year period, primarily involving the 5th and/or 6th lumbar vertebrae ( L5- L6; 87% of Quarter Horses and 48% of Thoroughbreds). Lumbar vertebral fractures were the third most common musculoskeletal cause of death in Quarter Horses and frequently involved a jockey injury. Lumbar vertebral specimens contained anatomical variations in the number of vertebrae, dorsal spinous processes and intertransverse articulations. Lumbar vertebral fractures examined in 6 racehorse specimens (5 Quarter Horses and one Thoroughbred) coursed obliquely in a cranioventral to caudodorsal direction across the adjacent L5- L6 vertebral endplates and intervertebral disc, although one case involved only one endplate. All cases had evidence of abnormalities on the ventral aspect of the vertebral bodies consistent with pre-existing, maladaptive pathology. Conclusions Lumbar vertebral fractures occur in racehorses with pre-existing pathology at the L5- L6 vertebral junction that is likely predisposes horses to catastrophic fracture. Knowledge of these findings should encourage assessment of the lumbar vertebrae, therefore increasing detection of mild vertebral injuries and preventing catastrophic racehorse and associated jockey injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]