Reciprocal apparatus dysfunction as a cause of severe hind limb lameness in a horse

A 2-year-old Appaloosa mare was admitted because of acute, severe hind limb lameness (grade 4 of 5). The hock could be flexed or extended without influencing the position of the stifle joint, and the fetlock and proximal interphalangeal joints could be extended while the hock was maintained in flexion. The diagnosis was functional loss of the reciprocal apparatus. The differential diagnoses for functional loss of the reciprocal apparatus include disruption of the common calcaneal tendon, the gastrocnemius muscle, the peroneus tertius, or the superficial digital flexor muscle. In this horse, the diagnosis was disruption of the superficial digital flexor muscle. The horse made an excellent recovery following 5 months of stall confinement.