ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: my horse's visit to the dentist (Anatomy Books)

Re: my horse's visit to the dentist (Anatomy Books)

ROBERT J MORRIS (bobmorris@rmci.net)
Fri, 18 Apr 97 08:49:47 -0500

-- [ From: ROBERT J MORRIS * EMC.Ver #2.5.02 ] --

<<You've obviously missed some important points about synovial joints, which
the carpus is. The articulating surfaces of the bones are separated by both
a cartilage and synovial cavity filled with synovial fluid. In other words
the bones do not touch, they glide on the fluid bed. During felxation of the
carpal joint there is quite a bit of displacement between the bones, this
how an
injection into the carpal joint can be performed.>>

Jim:

I did not miss any points about the interarticular spaces and know the
importance of them. If you peruse the texts by Rooney you will find that
many insults to these areas are caused. They are not caused by mis-alignment
, a clear impossibility, but most often by a mis-timing or incoordination
event.

By studying his description of autopsy, and performing a few of the
operations yourself, you will find that dis-association of a carpal joint is
quite difficult. (do not try this on a live horse, they do not appreciate it
in the least)

<<The question now is can these bones move in the saggital plane relative to
each other ie. a rotation saggitally. In other words can the cannon rotate
relative to the radius? Can the lower leg be rotated one way and the upper
leg go the other or stay in place or vice versa?>>

Please observe the structure of the individual bones in the carpus!! This
structure will allow some slight rotation I agree. In fact it is one of the
stretching/limbering/strengthening exercises I employ. This rotation does
not displace any of the carpal components ab nd is very limited in range.

To actually displace simply one of the carpal components will absolutely dis
[lace all of them and cause extreme insult to the joint and resulting
lameness.

I would postulate that what persons are seeing is the relief of a muscle
spasm in the case of near-term relief. With out x-ray investigation prior to
and subsequent to a "problem" no one will ever know what really occurs. Is
there any one out there that wishes to indulge us with this experience???
Realize this must be done with the proper protocol and with exact
measurements!!!

And sure, my joints "pop" at times. The explanation I have been given is the
noise id the rapid movement of synovial from one side of the joint to the
other. This is also, if done to the extreme, the cause of intra-joint
erosion and can become a serious insult to the articulating surface.

<<I would like to suggest another anatomy book: Veterinary Anatomy, Ashdown
and Done ($125)>> Would love to have it but SS checks will hardly allow such
expenditures.

<<One other book is Principles of Conformation
Analysis, Vol. Two, Deb Bennett, PhD. Look at page 74 picture #1 and page 78
picture #1, both horses have rotations of the cannon relative to the radius
on their right legs.>>

A very astute observation but a faulted conclusion. Not even the learned Deb
will say where the rotation is occuring. It is infeered that it is from
structural deformation during growth. This is not necessarily in the carpal
joint. It could be occasioned by abnormal (?) growth in the ephyphisis
(spelling?) of either bone. In fact Deb accounts for the rotation of one as
being "below the knee"!!!

As far as I can discern, any abnormal rotation or dislocation of a joint
results in intense pain not just a nagging toothache in the joint!!!

Sorry but I do not believe my horse swould appreciate my fooling around with
their joints and dislocating them. Their response if I tried might be bad
for my health. So if any of you out there in the big wide world have a horse
with a problem please volunteer to have the status confirmed then apply one
of the alternate therapies applied and then confirm the corrected results.
We will all applaude you when we see the final results.

Bob Morris
Morris endurance Enterprises
Boise, ID

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