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Topic:Lameness
Lameness in horses is a condition characterized by an abnormal gait or stance due to pain or mechanical dysfunction affecting the limbs or spine. It is a common issue in equine practice and can result from a variety of causes, including injury, infection, or degenerative diseases. Lameness can affect a horse's performance and quality of life, making accurate diagnosis and management important for equine health. Diagnostic techniques often include physical examination, imaging, and gait analysis. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the etiology, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for lameness in horses.
Straight sesamoidean ligament desmopathy commonly occurs with proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis. Proximal interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis (PIPJ OA) is a common cause of poor performance in the equine athlete; however, the supporting soft tissue structures surrounding the joint are seldom evaluated. Straight sesamoidean ligament injuries have been previously hypothesised to be concomitant with PIPJ OA; however, the frequency of these lesions coinciding with PIPJ OA has not been fully investigated. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of straight sesamoidean ligament desmopathy (SSLD) in horses presenting with PIPJ OA. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Horses presenti...
Ulcerative dermatitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, and desmitis caused by chronic infection with Serratia odorifera in a racehorse. We investigated a case of severe infection in a racehorse. The horse had developed progressive lameness associated with swelling of the left tarsal region, which progressed to ulcerative dermatitis, tendinitis, tenosynovitis, and desmitis. The plantar side of the superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon was visible through the skin ulcer, and coalescing nodules were present in the dermis. The horse was euthanized and an autopsy was performed. Grossly, in addition to the changes described above, severe edema of the soft tissues was associated with the ulcer. Microscopically, necrotizing and ulc...
Outcome of keratoma removal using different surgical techniques, including a modified partial hoof wall resection: A retrospective study (2004-2025). Keratomas are diseases of the equine hoof that can be associated with intermittent lameness and/or recurrent foot abscesses. Different surgical techniques for keratoma removal have been described. The aim of this retrospective study was to report the short- and long-term postoperative complications after keratoma removal using different surgical techniques: complete hoof wall resection (CR), partial hoof wall resection (PR) and a modified version of PR (MPR). The medical records of horses diagnosed with keratoma and space occupying lesion (SOL) of the hoof wall (2004-2025) at a Veterinary Teac...
Similar locomotor patterns across Quarter Horse disciplines inform lameness assessment. Lineage-based selection is central to the Quarter Horse industry and is often justified by the assumption that morphology determines locomotor function. However, objective evidence linking static conformation to discipline-specific locomotor behaviour under standardised conditions remains limited. Objective: To investigate whether morphological differences among Quarter Horse disciplines are associated with distinct locomotor patterns or whether locomotor function converges across disciplines despite morphological variation. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Barrel racing, reining, and ranch ...
Case Report: Oral and topical chronic administration of THC-rich and CBD-rich cannabis oil as palliative care in a rescued horse with open wound, sarcoid and chronic pain. Cannabinoid-based therapies have shown analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing potential across veterinary species; however, clinical data on long-term use of THC-rich formulations in horses remain scarce. This case report describes the use of combined oral and topical THC-rich and CBD-rich full-spectrum cannabis oils as part of a palliative care strategy in a rescued horse with severe chronic disease. A senior mixed-breed gelding was rescued with a large, chronic ulcerative lesion of the left hind limb, severe malnutrition, non-weight-bearing lameness (AAEP grade 5/5), and refractory ...
Pilot Study of an Alpha-2-Macroglobulin-Enriched Plasma-Derived Orthobiologic Preparation in Sport Horses with Chronic Degenerative Joint Disease. Chronic joint disease is a major cause of lameness and reduced performance in sport horses and is characterized by persistent synovial inflammation and protease-mediated matrix degradation. This exploratory prospective pilot study investigated clinical outcomes and synovial biomarker changes following intra-articular administration of an α-2-macroglobulin plasma-derived preparation. Twenty client-owned sport horses were observed in the treatment group (n = 10) or a comparison group (n = 10) and monitored for up to 180 days under field conditions. Clinical outcomes were assessed longitudinally...
Evaluation of doppler indexes of the lateral palmar digital artery in lame sport horses. Although lateral palmar digital artery (LPDA) flow velocity does not differ between forelimbs, horses with lameness typically reduce loading of the affected limb during the weight-bearing phase. This study aimed to assess whether Pulsed-Wave (PW) Doppler indices of the (LPDA) blood flow differ between the two forelimbs in horses with unilateral forelimb lameness, and whether these differences correlate with lameness severity. Twenty-seven lame and 15 healthy horses were enrolled. All Doppler ultrasonographic examinations were performed by a single operator, blinded to both the presence or abse...
Combined PRP and CCP Therapy Suppresses Inflammation and Protects Cartilage in Post-Traumatic Osteoarthritis. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and Cervus and Cucumis polypeptide (CCP) injections in rats with post-traumatic osteoarthritis (OA). The model was established by transection of the anterior cruciate ligament, and the animals were subsequently treated with PRP and CCP. Articular cartilage degeneration was assessed through gross morphological observation, histopathological staining, and a standardized scoring system. Concurrently, pain-related behaviors, joint swelling, levels of inflammatory cytokines, and markers associated with extracellular ...
Use of strain and shear wave elastography in the ultrasonographic evaluation of the intermediate patellar ligament in horses: comparison and consistency of data. The clinical significance and ultrasonographic features of intermediate patellar ligament (IPL) desmopathy in horses are still debated and considered nonspecific. Elastosonography allows assessment of tissue elasticity in response to an external stimulus. The aim of the study was to describe the elastosonographic characteristics of the equine IPL, evaluate the feasibility of both strain (SE) and two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE), and assess the consistency of the data obtained from these techniques. 20 adult horses of mixed breed, sex and athletic use were selected and allocated...
Myofascial trigger points as a primary cause of equine lameness: a biomechanical, neurophysiological, and fascial review. Equine lameness diagnosis is dominated by a joint- and tendon-centric paradigm. The standard diagnostic algorithm relies on gait observation, perineural and intrasynovial anesthesia, and cross-sectional imaging. It is directed almost exclusively at skeletal and articular structures. Myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) are hypersensitive, hyperirritable loci within taut bands of skeletal muscle. They produce local and referred pain on compression or contraction. In horses, MTrPs are a clinically relevant but systematically overlooked source of primary lameness. This review synthesises evidence fr...
Radiographic and Morphological Prevalence of Dorsopalmar Hoof Distortions in in Brazilian High-Performance Racehorses. Although racehorses represent a dominant segment in equine industry, there are growing concerns regarding injury prevention, with hoof conformation increasingly recognized as a contributing factor. Objective: To morphologically and radiographically evaluate the forelimb digits of racehorses at the São Paulo Jockey Club in order to determine the prevalence of dorsopalmar hoof distortions and to compare morphological and radiographic methods for assessing the hoof-pastern axis. Methods: The forelimb digits of 59 thoroughbred horses aged 3 to 4 years were evaluated using standardized photographi...
Clinical Outcomes Following Intra-Articular Administration of Autologous Muscle-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Horses with Chronic Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Open-Label Study. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are increasingly investigated as intra-articular therapies for equine osteoarthritis (OA), although most studies have focused on allogeneic or combination-based approaches. Evidence supporting the use of autologous MSCs as a stand-alone treatment remains limited. The present study evaluated the safety and clinical evolution following intra-articular administration of autologous muscle-derived MSCs (mdMSCs) in horses with naturally occurring chronic OA. Thirteen horses with confirmed clinical disease were included. Each affected joint received a single inje...
The impact of barefoot racing in young Swedish trotters on career length. In several European countries, racing without shoes, i.e., barefoot, is a common strategy in trotting races to improve the speed of the horse. Why some trotters can race barefoot without damage to the hoof from excessive wear and others cannot, has been shown to partly be explained by differences in hoof composition. In particular, durable hind hooves are believed to be important to sustain racing without shoes. Also, variation in the proportion of the races the horse races with barefoot hind hooves, has been shown to be affected by genetic differences in Swedish Standardbred trotters (SB) and...
Edema and Structural Remodeling in Equine Suspensory Ligament Injury: A Severity Gradient Associated with Microvascular Dysfunction. Suspensory ligament injury is a major cause of lameness in sport horses, yet its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to characterize histopathological alterations of the equine suspensory ligament and to evaluate their association with imaging features. A comparative descriptive study was performed on sport horses with forelimb lameness, combining clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathological analysis. Ligament samples were collected post-mortem from anatomically defined regions selected based on imaging find...
Clinical and Biochemical Effects of Intra-Articular Autologous Conditioned Serum and Triamcinolone in an Equine Model of Synovitis. Synovitis is a key contributor to the development of OA, and early modulation of the synovial environment may help limit downstream cartilage damage. This study compared the clinical and biochemical effects of intra-articular triamcinolone acetonide (TA) and autologous conditioned serum (ACS) in an equine model of IL-1β-induced synovitis. Six healthy adult horses were used in a crossover design involving five groups: PBS (negative control), IL-1β (positive control), IL-1β + ACS, IL-1β + TA, and an exploratory ACS-alone group administered post hoc to isolate its effects without IL-1β inter...
Measuring Chuckwagon Racehorse Movement Asymmetry Before and After Racing Using Wearable GNSS-IMUs: A Preliminary Study. In Chuckwagon racing, teams of four Thoroughbred horses pull wagons at high speeds. Movement symmetry is a key locomotion metric linked to force production, racing direction, and lameness. Racehorse symmetry in trot during on-track warmups and cooldowns was assessed. Over 10 days, 60 horses (average 8 per day) were fitted with Global Navigation Satellite Systems combined with Inertial Measurement Unit (GNSS-IMU) sensors. Weight-bearing asymmetry was quantified using the minimum difference (MnD) in vertical trunk displacement between diagonal limb pairs, and push-off asymmetry was quantified us...
Review of articular cartilage repair techniques and their application in the horse. Articular cartilage lesions represent a significant career-limiting problem in athletic horses. A healthy articular cartilage surface is vital for optimal joint function, and defects can result in irreversible degenerative changes. Successful treatment of cartilage lesions remains a long-standing challenge for orthopaedic surgeons, prompting ongoing research into new surgical techniques for their management. This narrative review describes surgical procedures for the treatment of cartilage/osteochondral lesions, as well as the use of the horse as a highly translational preclinical model to hum...
Standing computed tomographic tenography is reliable in identifying soft tissue lesions within the digital flexor tendon sheath in horses. To determine the diagnostic performance of standing computed tomographic tenography (CTT) in detecting naturally occurring intrathecal lesions of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), manica flexoria (MF), and in identifying palmar/plantar annular ligament (PAL) desmitis and constriction in horses undergoing tenoscopy. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Client-owned horses of various breeds and use, median age of 12.5 years (range: 6-20 years). Methods: A total of 24 horses with inconclusive ultrasonographic and contrast tenograp...
Toll-like receptor 3-activated allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells as an adjunct for the treatment of synovial sepsis in 3 horses. To describe the case presentation, treatment, and outcome of horses treated with Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR-3)-activated allogeneic umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (CB-MSCs). Unassigned: 3 horses presenting with chronic or antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) septic synovitis. Unassigned: All horses presented with clinical signs associated with septic synovitis including marked grade 4/5 lameness, joint effusion, heat/swelling of the limb, and synovial fluid parameters consistent with sepsis. Case 1 presented 3 weeks following the onset of clinical signs. Cases 2 and 3 developed...
Efficacy of an Oral Chondroprotective Joint Supplement on Stride Length and Gait Symmetry in Aged Geldings with Chronic Lameness. Oral joint supplements (OJSs), specifically those containing glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, are some of the most popular feed additives fed by horse owners. However, evidence of the efficacy of these nutraceuticals in vivo is lacking. To investigate the impacts of an OJS on equine lameness, 40 geldings (18 ± 7 yr) with chronic lameness and AAEP lameness grades between 2 and 4 (as scored by a veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist) were enrolled in the study. Horses were stratified by lameness grade, BCS, and weight, and then randomly assigned to receive a placebo powde...
Deep digital flexor tenotomy provides pain relief and clinical comfort in horses with chronic laminitis. This study evaluated the clinical application, outcomes, and prognostic indicators of deep digital flexor tenotomy (DDFT) in horses with chronic laminitis. Unassigned: A computer-generated search identified all possible cases of laminitis for horses referred to the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals at the University of Pennsylvania between 2010 and 2022. Medical records were reviewed for a diagnosis of laminitis by clinical examination and radiographs. The population was characterized by breed, age, clinical features, and radiographic findings. Poisson regression was performed to id...
Standing NanoNeedle Arthroscopy of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint for Removal of Osteochondral Fragments of Distal P2 and the Extensor Process in a Horse. In horses, standing arthroscopy offers a valuable alternative to general anesthesia for the reduction of anesthetic-associated risks, and provides improved visualization in joints where access is facilitated by weightbearing. These techniques are particularly advantageous for patients with increased anesthetic risk or financial limitations. To the authors' knowledge, the removal of osteochondral fragments from the distal interphalangeal joint in a standing, sedated horse using small-diameter arthroscopic equipment has not been previously reported. Methods: A 7-year-old American Quarter Horse-T...
Objective gait analysis methods for assessing movement asymmetry in the equine patient. To demonstrate the uses, data interpretation, and limitations of objective gait analysis methods in equine practice. Unassigned: Teaching and client-owned horses. Unassigned: Informed owner consent was obtained for all animals used in the making of this technical tutorial video. Primary literature relevant to this video was reviewed from January 2016 to January 2026. Images and data were collected from teaching horses and client-owned horses. Unassigned: Objective gait analysis provides accurate and repeatable data on the locomotion of a horse; however, inaccuracies may occur, especially in ca...
[Puncture wounds of the equine hoof – a retrospective study of 96 cases – Part 1: Prevalence, clinical findings and diagnostic investigations]. Penetrating wounds of the hoof are common and potentially life-threatening injuries in equine veterinary practice. The aim of this study was the systematic data analysis of horses presenting to the clinic with a solar puncture wound.In this retrospective study, patient data from horses presented with a puncture wound to the hoof in the period from September 2008 to August 2024 were collected. The analyzed data covered signalment, intended use, and insurance status. The following were also considered: previous history including the period between injury and presentation to the clinic, affected ...
Macroscopic comparison of open Metzenbaum and ultrasound-guided fasciotomy techniques for surgical treatment of the hindlimb proximal suspensory ligament desmopathy in horses: A cadaveric anatomical study. To macroscopically characterize and compare the open Metzenbaum (FOM) and ultrasound-guided (FUG) plantar fasciotomy techniques for decompression of the hindlimb proximal suspensory ligament (PSL), and to determine whether either approach induces intraligamentous splitting (ILS). Methods: Cadaveric experimental study. Methods: Paired hindlimbs from 10 adult horses with no history of hindlimb lameness. Methods: Each horse contributed one limb to FOM and the contralateral to FUG. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon, and incision measurements were obtained by a blinded examiner. Ski...
Assessing quality and passive range of motion in equine distal limb joints. To describe and demonstrate subjective and objective techniques for assessing the quality and passive range of motion (ROM) of the distal forelimb and hind limb joints of the horse. Special attention will be given to the tarsus, carpus, and fetlock joints, as these sites are most prone to injury and/or pathology and thus most clinically relevant. Unassigned: Adult horses undergoing distal limb joint ROM assessment for clinical diagnostic or treatment monitoring purposes. Unassigned: First, subjective techniques for assessing distal limb joint motion and end-feel as well as general guidelines f...
Effects of various perineural analgesia techniques on decreasing experimentally-induced lameness of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint. Recent evidence has shown that perineural analgesia may be less specific than previously thought. Objective: To compare the effects of four distal limb perineural analgesia techniques on resolving synovitis-induced lameness of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint (MCPJ). Methods: Nine horses had one MCPJ injected with 75ng of recombinant equine interleukin-1β (reIL-1β). Ten hours later, horses underwent one of two blocking patterns: (1) a palmar digital (PDNB) followed by an abaxial sesamoidean (ASNB) nerve block or (2) a palmar metacarpal (PMNB) followed by a palmar (PaNB) nerve block. Skin...
Client-specific outcome measure for chronic osteoarthritis pain assessment in horses. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent cause of chronic pain and lameness in horses. Whereas lameness can be quantified using objective measures, the assessment of OA-associated pain remains challenging. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of the Client-Specific Outcome Measure (CSOM), a tool widely used in small animals, for the assessment of chronic OA pain in horses through caretaker evaluation. Unassigned: Seventeen privately owned horses with confirmed OA were enrolled in a 20-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. For each horse, three individual pain-related ind...
The influence of dirt track hardness on equine limb acceleration and impact attenuation. BACKGROUND: Track hardness is a modifiable factor that may influence musculoskeletal loading and injury risk in equine athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of track hardness on segmental accelerations and impact attenuation in the equine forelimb at racing speeds. We hypothesized that harder surfaces would result in greater peak segmental accelerations and reduced attenuation. METHODS: Twelve Thoroughbred chuckwagon outriding horses, instrumented with tri-axial accelerometers and a global positioning system (GPS) unit, galloped on the Calgary Stampede dirt racetrack ...
