Equis ISSN 2398-2977
Prepubic tendon: rupture
Contributor(s): Wendy E Vaala, Madeleine L H Campbell
Introduction
- Separation of ventral abdominal musculature including from its attachment to the pelvis.
- Cause: heavy pregnant uterus in light breed mare; prolonged excessive ventral edema; hydrops of placental membranes, trauma, twinning.
- Signs: sudden ventral displacement of caudal abdomen with edema and cranial displacement of the udder, with painful ventral edema cranial to udder and elevated tail head.
- Diagnosis: physical examination, rectal palpation, ultrasonography.
- Treatment: support abdomen until parturition; induce parturition when appropriate.
- Prognosis: poor to grave for mare. Prognosis for future fertility if mare survives also grave, unless embryo transfer allowed by stud books.
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Heavy pregnant uterus in older, unfit mares.
- Prolonged excessive ventral edema.
- Increased uterine weight in pregnancy due to:
Predisposing factors
General
- Draught breeds.
- Old mares, often multiparous.
- Prepubic tendon rupture can be a sequel of hydroallantois, hydroamnios and twinning.
- Trauma.
- Abdominal wall infection.
- May occur spontaneously, without any predisposing factors.
Pathophysiology
- Rupture of prepubic tendon and/or abdominal muscles can occur together or separately in late-pregnant mares.
- Heavy pregnant uterus → increased weight on ventral abdomen → separation of ventral abdominal musculature from its attachment to the pelvis via the prepubic tendon or internally → sudden appearance of ventral displacement of caudal abdomen → accompanying edema.
- Mare becomes progessively more uncomfortable and unable to move.
- Rupture of the uterine vessels can occur.
Timecourse
Diagnosis
This article is available in full to registered subscribers
Sign up now to purchase a 30 day trial, or
Login
Treatment
This article is available in full to registered subscribers
Sign up now to purchase a 30 day trial, or
Login
Prevention
This article is available in full to registered subscribers
Sign up now to purchase a 30 day trial, or
Login
Outcomes
This article is available in full to registered subscribers
Sign up now to purchase a 30 day trial, or
Login
Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Dolente B (2004) Critical peripartum disease in the mare. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 20 (1), 151 -165 PubMed.
- Santschi E M & LeBlanc M M (1995) Fetal and placental conditions that cause high-risk pregnancy in mares. Comp Cont Educ Pract Vet 17 (5), 710-720 VetMedResource.
- Troedsson M (2007) High risk pregnant mare. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 49 (1), 59 VetMedResource.
- Perkins N R et al (1994) Reproductive emergencies in the mare. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 10 (3), 643-670 PubMed.
- Jackson P G (1982) Rupture of the prepubic tendon in a shire mare. Vet Rec 111 (2), 38 PubMed.