Lumbar fractures in a 5‐year‐old Warmblood cross gelding

Abstract

SummaryThis case report describes multiple lumbar vertebral fractures in a 5‐year‐old Warmblood cross gelding used for low‐level exercise, with no known history of trauma. Clinical signs included intermittent severe pain, distress and unwillingness to move. When the horse was in less severe pain, he tilted the pelvis to one side when walking and also when trotting. Fracture of the 6th lumbar vertebral body was diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography and confirmed by post‐mortem computed tomography. Post‐mortem examination also revealed a complete fracture of the 3rd lumbar vertebral body. Previously, lumbar fractures have only been reported in racing breeds and ante mortem diagnosis has been limited to scintigraphy.