Coccygeal vertebral damage in a multiparous mare following head and tail rope‐assisted recovery from general anaesthesia

An 18-year-old multiparous Thoroughbred mare with a 2-month-old foal at foot presented for investigation of colic. A right dorsal displacement the large colon retroflexion pelvic flexure was corrected under general anaesthesia and interventional recovery using head tail ropes performed. The made multiple attempts to stand, support before achieving maintaining standing position. following day, marked swelling around perineal vulval region noted, combined reduced tone. Urination, but not defaecation, had been observed surgery. Transrectal ultrasonography indicated formation haematoma adjacent ventral caudal sacral first coccygeal vertebrae. Initial radiographic evaluation suggestive an oblique fracture endplate vertebra, which confirmed on repeat radiography 7 days later. Treatment included cold compresses reduce swelling, multimodal analgesia, dietary modification soften faecal consistency regular manual evacuation rectum avoid impaction. discharged after 19 hospitalisation, gradually recovered ability defaecate produced viable year without assistance.