Tarsocrural joint luxation in a horse.

A 14-year-old Quarter Horse x Thoroughbred gelding was admitted to the teaching hospital because of inability to bear weight on its right hind limb, associated with a severe deviation of the tarsus. The provisional diagnosis was tarsal joint luxation or fracture. Radiography revealed complete luxation of the tarsocrural joint. The luxation was reduced, using minimal force. The horse was confined to a box stall and was maintained in a full-length hind-limb cast for 33 days. Box stall confinement was continued for 3 months after removal of the cast. On reexamination 18 months after the injury, the horse had only mild lameness (grade 1 of 5), but had marked reduction in the range of motion of the tarsus. Radiography revealed extensive changes indicative of severe degenerative joint disease. The horse was still used occasionally as a light pleasure riding horse and maintained itself on pasture well.