Front Matter

356 Canine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

Sartorius

Palpation in standing or lateral recumbency

is achieved by cupping the hand across the

cranial aspect of the femur and then tracing

up the sartorius with the thumb placed later­

ally and remaining fingers placed medially.

As the examiner approaches the proximal seg­

ment, near the iliac crest, a prominent and firm

oval bulging is noted. Generally, the central

portion of this prominence will be painful with

pressure or stretch applied and the patient may

shift or raise the leg. While placing the limb

into hip extension, concurrent palpation of

the sartorius may give the examiner the sense

that the muscle is too taut to allow normal

Figure 14.3 Tightness, discomfort, and spasm may be
noted when stretching the iliopsoas muscle by placing
the hip in extension with abduction, or extension with
internal rotation of the limb.

Case Study 14.1 Chronic iliopsoas insertionopathy

Signalment: 7‐y.o. MN Border Collie. Dual certified in

Wilderness Air Scent (Live) and Human Remains

Detection Land (Cadaver). Liam actively trains in a

USAR environment to increase his agility and confi­

dence for searching in various terrains (Figure 14.4).

Presenting complaint: Acute left pelvic limb lame­

ness. Onset of lameness associated with a cadaver

search. Pertinent medical history: right iliopsoas

strain with quadriceps involvement 1 year and bilat­

eral iliopsoas strains 4 years prior, each managed

with rehabilitation.

Physical examination: Circumduction of both pelvic

limbs during swing phase of gait. Able to sit square, but

slightly off‐weighting left pelvic limb while standing.

Spasm and mild reaction elicited on palpation of left

iliopsoas at midbody and insertion point on lesser tro­

chanter. Mild muscle atrophy noted in both pelvic limbs

and less paraspinal mass than expected in a working

dog. Weakness appreciated in both pelvic limbs and

core. Neck and shoulder tension noted but no orthope­

dic impairments noted. Tick‐borne disease ruled out,

normal cardiac status, no metabolic diseases.

Diagnostics: Radiographs: Radiographs of stifles, pel­

vis, and lumbar spine submitted for radiologist

review. No significant abnormalities identified in

lumbar spine. Coxofemoral joints WNL; femoral

muscle mass symmetrical. Remodeling and frag­

mented appearance of left lesser trochanter. Stifle

and tarsal joints appear symmetrical and WNL.

Findings consistent with iliopsoas injury/enthesopa­

thy. No other significant abnormalities appreciated

(Figure 14.5).

Musculoskeletal ultrasound: Mild focal swelling

with decreased echogenicity and loss of echotexture

noted at distal insertion of left iliopsoas. Remainder

of insertion heterogonous with loss of echotexture

and echogenic areas. Small indentation of lesser tro­

chanter deep to a rounded bony body associated

with insertion of the iliopsoas. Mildly uneven width

of distal insertion of right iliopsoas with altered echo­

genicity and small echogenic foci (Figure 14.6).

Diagnosis: Acute exacerbation of bilateral chronic

iliopsoas muscle injury with ongoing fibrotic replace­

ment. Degree of echoarchitectural changes most pro­

nounced on left iliopsoas.

Figure 14.4 Patient working a rubble pile during

training.