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.
Hardy J, Marcoux M, Eisenberg H.A suspected lesion of osteochondrosis dissecans involving the anconeal process of the humeroradial joint (elbow) was found in 2 horses. In horse 1, the lesion was found during routine lameness examination, during which alleviation of the lameness was achieved after intra-articular anesthesia of the elbow. In horse 2, the lesion was found at necropsy. Horse 1 responded satisfactorily to intra-articular treatment with hyaluronic acid. Both horses also had other joints affected with osteochondrosis dissecans.
Webbon PM.A series of experimental tendon biopsies is described. Three biopsies were taken from the lateral digital extensor tendon (LDET) and three from the superficial flexor tendon (SFT). The LDET biopsies resulted in little discomfort whereas the SFT biopsies led to temporary lameness. The tendons were examined histologically up to 99 days after the biopsies were removed. In all of the tendons the defect filled with granulation tissue which subsequently became organised as a longitudinally orientated collagenous scar tissue. In this small series of biopsies the histological effects of the biopsy per...
Bertone AL, McIlwraith CW, Powers BE, Stashak TS, Aanes WA, Turner AS.Subchondral osseous cystic lesion of the elbow was diagnosed as a cause of lameness in 6 horses. Persistent lameness and signs of degenerative joint disease developed in the first 3 horses treated conservatively with confinement. Subsequently, 3 horses were each treated by extra-articular enucleation of the cystic cavity via the proximal-medial aspect of the radius. Compared with conservative management, better long-term success (determined by return of athletic soundness and less evidence of degenerative joint disease) was achieved with surgical curettage of elbow subchondral cystic lesions.
Turner TA.Navicular disease was diagnosed in 36 horses. Each horse was treated, using shoeing as the only major means of treatment. Phenylbutazone was used initially for 10 days after shoeing. Shoeing was designed to correct preexisting problems, enhance physiologic function of the foot, and ease breakover of the foot. The horses were evaluated over a period ranging from 12 to 54 months. The lameness improved in all horses. Thirty-one of the 36 horses treated were not lame when last evaluated. Shoeing was most effective when performed within 8 months of the first signs of lameness. Also, horses used for...
Krueger AS, Kinden DA, Garner HE, Sprouse RF.The morphologic and pathologic changes which occurred within the cecal mucosa of 4 horses during the onset of laminitis were determined from cecal biopsy materials obtained via a cecal fistula; the laminitis was induced with carbohydrate overload. The cecal epithelial mucosa specimens were obtained at 0 (base line), 24, 32, 48, and 72 hours after horses were given carbohydrate overload, and these were fixed and subsequently photographed. Changes in the cecal epithelium were examined by transmission electron and scanning electron microscopies. These histopathologic changes indicated that the mu...
Brown MP, Gronwall RR, Houston AE.Four healthy adult mares were each given a single injection of sodium cefoxitin (20 mg/kg of body weight, IV), and serum cefoxitin concentrations were measured serially during a 6-hour period. The mean elimination rate constant was 1.08/hour and the elimination half-life was 0.82 hour. The apparent volume of distribution (at steady state) and the clearance of the drug were estimated at 0.12 L/kg and 259 ml/hr/kg, respectively. Each mare and 2 additional mares were then given 4 consecutive IM injections of sodium cefoxitin (400 mg/ml) at a dosage of 20 mg/kg. Cefoxitin concentrations in serum, ...
McEwen SA, Hulland TJ.Thirteen horses with histories of exertional rhabdomyolysis were exercised for 20 minutes to induce clinical signs of lameness, elevated serum creatine kinase (CK), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities and skeletal muscle morphologic lesions. The clinical signs exhibited by affected horses included trembling, sweating, increased rate of respiration, and restricted limb movement. Serum CK reached maximal activity between 4 and 8 hours after the exercise period and serum AST activity peaked between 24 and 48 hours. Histologically, the skeletal muscle lesions in muscle biopsies 24 hour...
Jeffcott LB, McCartney RN, Speirs VC.A safe, non-invasive method for the accurate measurement of bone mineral content in the third metacarpal bone of the horse is described. The technique involves scanning the bone with a single photon beam from an Americium-241 source. Data were obtained from the excised metacarpal bones from both forelimbs of 50 normal and seven lame horses. Measurements were made in vivo on eight normal and seven lame horses and on one experimental horse with osteopenia induced by partial weightlessness in a flotation tank. In the normal horses bone mineral content altered with age, particularly in the first s...
MacGregor CM.Radiographic examination of the navicular bones of 258 horses was carried out. Of these 258 horses, 83 were sound (Group A), 151 had been diagnosed clinically as having navicular disease (Group B), and 24 had a forefoot lameness of unknown aetiology (Group C). Seven basic shapes of distal nutrient foramina were identified from these radiographs. A scoring system was then developed based on these different types of distal nutrient foramina. When this scoring system was applied to the radiographs of the 258 horses examined significant differences were found between the mean navicular scores of t...
Dyson S.The difficulties associated with the interpretation of the results of regional and intra-articular anaesthesia are discussed with reference to eight lame horses. The clinical and radiographic features of each horse are described, together with the results of anaesthesia. One horse had clinical and radiographic signs consistent with navicular disease but it was not possible to relieve the lameness. Two horses had fractures of bones within the foot but lameness was not improved by palmar (abaxial sesamoid) nerve blocks. One horse had more than one cause of lameness. Four horses had joint patholo...
Genovese RL, Rantanen NW, Hauser ML, Simpson BS.In our 3 years of clinical experience, we have found that diagnostic ultrasound provides the veterinarian with a valuable diagnostic tool. It allows the clinician to quantify morphologic change that has occurred as a result of soft-tissue injuries, even when the clinical findings are ambiguous or insufficient. In cases in which aggressive postinjury therapy has been instituted prior to presentation, diagnostic ultrasound is often the only noninvasive method that can ascertain the extent of the horse's injury. Diagnostic ultrasound provides the technology to detect injuries before they become p...
Auer JA, Watkins JP, White NA, Taylor TS, Rooney JR.Fractures of the fourth carpal bone were diagnosed in 5 horses; 3 fractures were associated with fracture of the intermediate carpal bone. The diagnosis was delayed in all 5 horses, apparently because of the moderate nature of the clinical signs. Open surgical reduction with lag screw type fixation was used in all horses. Because of delayed treatment, transfixation of carpal bones (necessary for stability), and surgical trauma, degenerative joint disease with osteophyte formation occurred in all 5 horses. None of the 5 horses was able to begin or return successfully to work, although 4 of the ...
Stover SM, Hornof WJ, Richardson GL, Meagher DM.History, physical examination, and bone scintigraphy were used to diagnose central and/or third tarsal bone trauma in 3 acutely lame horses. In all 3 cases, the results of initial radiographic examination were negative. Bone scintigraphy revealed focal, intense radioisotope uptake at the level of the distal tarsal bones in the 3 horses. Radiographs obtained 4 weeks after injury in one horse demonstrated a slab fracture of the central tarsal bone. Conservative management of the tarsal bone disease resulted in acceptable return to function in all 3 horses.
Verschooten F, Picavet TM.Desmitis of the fetlock annular ligament was diagnosed in 30 horses during a period of eight years. Most of the horses had been lame for a prolonged period and had chronically distended digital flexor tendon sheaths. Air tendograms demonstrated thickened palmar or plantar annular ligaments. In 25 horses the ligament was cut longitudinally; of these, 16 horses returned to full work without any difficulty and one became sound after a second operation. Follow up time varied from three months to seven-and-a-half years. None of the five untreated horses returned to work.
Dyson S.The results of a detailed investigation of 58 horses with suspected shoulder lameness are described. Lameness was found to originate distal to the shoulder region in 22 horses. No diagnosis was reached in five horses. Genuine shoulder problems occurred in 29 horses. The clinical signs of shoulder lameness are described and contrasted with lower limb lameness. The limitations of currently available diagnostic techniques are discussed. Problems identified in the shoulder region included osteochondritis dissecans, subchondral bone cysts, arthrosis, fracture, luxation, septic arthritis and soft ti...
Wyn-Jones G, May SA.Over a period of seven years, 30 horses were treated by surgical arthrodesis for lameness resulting from osteoarthrosis of the proximal intertarsal, distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints (bone and occult spavin). Twenty-five horses were affected in one hock only and five were affected bilaterally. Four different techniques for achieving arthrodesis were used. Fourteen out of 18 horses (78 per cent) with involvement of the distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joints only and six out of 11 horses (55 per cent) in which the proximal intertarsal joint was also involved became sound follo...
Dyson S.Methods of investigating horses with suspected shoulder lameness are described and discussed. The gait of shoulder lameness is characterised and compared with that of lower forelimb lameness. If lameness is slight, differentiation may be difficult, but if moderate, upper forelimb lameness usually results in shortening of the cranial phase of the stride and a low limb flight. Clinically, it may not be possible to differentiate between shoulder and elbow lameness without intra-articular anaesthesia. Practical aspects of intra-articular anaesthesia of the shoulder joint are reviewed. Synovial flu...
Meredith D, Elser AH, Wolf B, Soma LR, Donawick WJ, Lazary S.Frequencies of equine leukocyte antigen distribution were determined by complement-mediated cytotoxicity testing among populations of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses, including animals affected with equine sarcoid and laminitis. A highly significant association is described between the presence or history of sarcoid lesions in Thoroughbreds and the expression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-encoded antigens, W3 and B1. No association was found between antigenic expression frequencies and laminitis in either breed. These findings suggest that a strong relationship exists betw...
Wagner PC, Grant BD, Kaneps AJ, Watrous BJ.After desmotomy of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (distal check ligament) had been performed in 40 horses with flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint (contracture of the deep digital flexor tendon), the horses' records were evaluated retrospectively. Information concerning soundness, return to intended purpose, and cosmetic appearance of the limb and hoof was obtained. The condition had been diagnosed and treated in 26 horses before they were one year old (group A, acute) and in 14 horses greater than one year of age (group B, chronic). Nine months to ...
Dalin G, Jeffcott LB.Gait analysis can play an important role in exercise physiology, racetrack ergonomics, lameness prophylaxis, and assessment of performance potential in racehorses. This article concentrates on the methods used for gait analysis and considers some basic data on the different gaits of the horse.
Juzwiak JS, Milton JL.A 4-day-old foal underwent repair of a proximal metaphyseal fracture of the tibia. After closed reduction, fixation was achieved by use of blind cross-pinning. Thirty-five days after surgery, radiography demonstrated complete healing. The foal was mildly lame 4 months after repair of the fracture. Blind cross-pinning may be considered as a method of repair for certain long bone fractures in small foals.
Shoemaker RW, Allen AL, Richardson CE, Wilson DG.To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-articular administration of ethyl alcohol for arthrodesis of tarsometatarsal joints in horses. Methods: 8 healthy female horses without lameness or radiographic evidence of tarsal joint osteoarthritis. Methods: In each horse, 1 tarsometatarsal joint was treated with 4 mL of 70% ethyl alcohol and the opposite joint was treated with 4 mL of 95% ethyl alcohol. Lameness examinations were performed daily for 2 weeks, followed by monthly evaluations for the duration of the 12-month study. Radiographic evaluations of both tarsi were performed 1 month after...
Gaughan EM.Skeletal origins of exercise intolerance and performance failure can reside in multiple tissues. Diagnosis of injury that results in an ability to continue to exercise, yet inefficiently do so, requires familiarity with evaluation of subtle lameness and often with the specific demands of the different equine sports. Imaging is usually vital to diagnosis development and understanding of lesion influences on locomotion. Therapy is lesion dependent. Return to competitive exercise and performance is dictated by an understanding of skeletal tissue response to injury, rational progressive treatment,...
Katrinaki V, Estrada RJ, Mählmann K, Kolokythas P, Lischer CJ.The outcome and interpretation of intra-synovial diagnostic analgesia of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) and the navicular bursa (NB) remain in dispute, and no objective studies have been carried out to establish the percentage of improvement over time from these two analgesia techniques. Objective: To investigate the qualitative and time-dependent outcome of DIPJ-A and NB-A in naturally occurring forelimb lameness. Methods: Case series. Methods: Twenty-three clinical cases with forelimb lameness were evaluated objectively using a body mounted inertial sensor system (BMIS). Lameness wa...
Honnas CM, Crabill MR, Mackie JT, Yarbrough TB, Schumacher J.Six horses with septic navicular bursitis or distal sesamoid osteomyelitis were treated by means of surgical debridement and lavage, followed by packing of the wound created in the bottom of the foot with an autogenous cancellous bone graft. Two horses were euthanatized, one 18 months after surgery because of complications in the contralateral support limb, and one 68 days after surgery because of continuing severe lameness. Four horses were alive 9, 16, 21, and 42 months after surgery. One horse was used as a broodmare and did not have observable lameness. Two horses were being ridden. The re...
Garvican ER, Wylie CE, Payne RJ, Smith RK, Head MJ.To document the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of mineralization of the equine palmar/plantar annular ligament (PAL). Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Ponies (n=7). Methods: Case records from 2 referral hospitals were examined to identify cases with lameness associated with PAL mineralization treated surgically. Follow-up information was obtained from the owners by telephone questionnaire. Results: Duration of lameness before referral ranged from 5 weeks to 6 months, and degree of lameness from grade 1 to 5 out of 10. In 3 cases, records noted obvious pain when ...
Dabareiner RM, White NA, Sullins KE.Medical records, radiographs, and sonograms of 63 horses with metacarpophalangeal joint synovial pad proliferation were examined retrospectively. All horses had lameness, joint effusion, or both signs associated with one or both metacarpophalangeal joints. Bony remodeling and concavity of the distodorsal aspect of the third metacarpal bone (Mc3) just proximal to the metacarpal condyles was identified by radiography in 71 joints (93%); 24 joints (32%) had radiographic evidence of a chip fracture located at the proximal dorsal aspect of the proximal phalanx. Fifty-four joints (71%) were examined...
Piccot-Crézollet C, Cauvin ER.To report an unusual 2nd carpal bone (C2) slab fracture and its treatment, using an ultrasonographically assisted, minimally invasive arthrotomy technique, for fragment removal. Methods: Case report. Methods: An 11-year-old crossbred Warmblood gelding. Methods: A bone fragment, spanning the height of C2, identified on the palmaromedial aspect of C2 was demarcated intraoperatively using ultrasonographically guided needles and removed by arthrotomy. Results: Fracture fragment removal was achieved using a small, ultrasonographically guided arthrotomy. The horse has become sound after treatment an...
Hawkins A, Chapman L, Meter M, Smith RK.To report the diagnostic features and clinical outcome of horses with digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) synoviocoeles treated tenoscopically under ultrasonographic guidance. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Client-owned horses (n = 10). Methods: Medical records were searched for horses with lameness localized to the region of the DFTS and clinical evidence of a fluid-filled mass (synoviocoele) associated with the DFTS. Diagnostic imaging and surgical findings, together with long-term outcome, were reported. Results: Lameness and synoviocoeles were unilateral (5 forelimbs, 5 hin...
da Silva LL, Silveira MD, da Costa Garcia CAS, Grudzinski PB, Martins CF, Nardi NB.Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have attracted great attention for therapeutic applications. Since cells derived from different tissues have different properties, using the right tissue source may impact their efficiency in regenerative medicine. This study describes for the first time the isolation and characterization of MSCs derived from the equine coronary corium, which may be useful for treating diseases such as laminitis. Seven coronary corium samples were used for isolation of cells (ccMSCs). Adherent cells were characterized for morphology, immunophenotype, proliferation and different...
Johnson SA, Frisbie DD, Griffenhagen GM, King MR.Blood flow restriction (BFR) has become a key rehabilitative tool for human orthopaedic conditions. With modernised technology and evolution of clinical application, patient-specific delivery of occlusion percentages is now considered the standard of care in human patients due to improved therapeutic outcomes and minimised safety risks. Safety validation and limb occlusion pressure (LOP) data for horses, however, are lacking. Objective: (1) To determine if BFR exposure resulted in forelimb biomechanical gait dysfunction as safety validation and (2) to investigate inter-horse and inter-limb LOP...
Bolwell CF, Rogers CW, French NP, Firth EC.There is increasing evidence suggesting that early exercise in Thoroughbred racehorses may be beneficial to the development of the musculoskeletal system. At present, information on the exercise programmes and health problems of individual yearlings during a sales preparation is scant. Objective: To describe the exercise and health problems of Thoroughbred yearlings during preparation for sales, and to identify variations in exercise between and within farms. Methods: A prospective cohort study was used to collect exercise and health information from 18 farms across New Zealand. Daily exercise...
de Blaauw JA, Rijkenhuizen AB, van Nieuwstadt RA, Grinwis GC, Back W.Two grey mares, a 12-year-old Arabian and a 13-year-old Lippizaner cross, were referred for chronic pelvic limb lameness and abduction of the limb during the non supporting phase of the stride. The clinical examination revealed melanomas under the tail and on the perineum, and oedema of the proximal lame limb. A mass in the pelvic area was detected on rectal palpation. Laparoscopy was performed and the provisional diagnosis of malignant melanoma was made. Histological examination of the biopsy taken under laparoscopic control from the mass in the pelvis confirmed the diagnosis of malignant mel...
Espinosa-Mur P, Spriet M, Nogues MP, Cullen T, Galuppo LD.A 16-year-old, Quarter Horse mare was presented for a 3/5 right hind lameness associated with osteoarthritis of the talocalcaneal joint (TCLJ). Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) demonstrated marked increased uptake of 18F-sodium fluoride and bone remodeling at the medial facet of the TCLJ, respectively. Under general anesthesia 2 cortical screws (4.5 and 5.5 mm) were placed in neutral fashion via an arthrotomy from dorsomedial to plantaromedial through the medial facet of the TCLJ followed by copious lavage of the tarsocrural joint. Eight weeks after surgery, obse...
Yarbrough TB, Lee MR, Hornof WJ, Schumacher HR, O'Brien TR.To determine the effects of intraarticular administration of Samarium-153 (153Sm) bound to hydroxyapatite microspheres (153SmM) on an osteochondral chip-induced synovitis. Methods: Sixty days after implantation of autogenous osteochondral fragments in the middle carpal and metacarpophalangeal joints, 153SmM was administered into 1 joint of each type. The contralateral joints were used as untreated controls. Methods: Fifteen horses without preexisting joint disease were randomly divided into 2 groups (7 in the carpal group, 8 in the metacarpophalangeal group). Methods: Horses had osteochondral ...
Roth JE, Nixon AJ, Gantz VA, Meyer D, Mohammed H.A carbon dioxide laser, used in a rapidly pulsed mode, was evaluated for intra-articular use in horses. Under arthroscopic guidance, a lensed 5 mm laser probe attached directly to a hand-held carbon dioxide laser was inserted into one intercarpal joint of eight horses. In four horses, a cartilage crater 1 cm in diameter was created to the level of the subchondral bone of the articular surface of the third carpal bone. In four horses, the laser was directed perpendicular to the articular surface of the third carpal bone and activated to penetrate the cartilage and subchondral bone. The intercar...
McGuigan MP, Walsh TC, Pardoe CH, Day PS, Wilson AM.Previous studies have implicated tension in the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in the rotation of the distal phalanx (DP) after the breakdown of the dorsal laminae caused by laminitis. Howeveer, once the DP has rotated, the DDFT should become shorter, reducing the force it exerts on the DP. Objective: To compare DDFT force and ground reaction forces (GRFs) in normal ponies and ponies with rotation of the DP as a sequel to laminitis. Methods: Six normal ponies (Group 1) and 6 sound ponies with 6-13 degrees of rotation of the DP in relation to the dorsal hoof wall (Group 2) were assessed at t...
Dabareiner RM, Chaffin MK, Quirham H, Carter GK.4 horses with enthesopathy and desmitis of the medial collateral ligament of the cubital joint were examined. Results: All 4 horses had a history of acute, severe, unilateral forelimb lameness and had signs of pain during manipulation of the affected upper forelimb; 2 also had swelling in the axillary region. There was no improvement in lameness after diagnostic local analgesia below the carpal region, and 1 of 4 horses had mild improvement after cubital joint analgesia. Radiography revealed enthesophyte formation on the radial tuberosity and linear mineralization of the medial collateral liga...
Holl HM, Armstrong C, Galantino-Homer H, Brooks SA.Laminitis results in impaired tissue integrity and Inflammation of the epidermal and dermal lamellae connecting the hoof capsule to the underlying distal phalanx and causes loss-of-use, poor quality of life and euthanasia in horses. Historically, studies to better understand the etiology of laminitis by documenting changes in gene expression were hampered by the paucity of gene annotation specific to hoof tissues. Next-generation sequencing enables improvements to annotation by incorporating equine- and hoof-specific transcripts. Here we characterize the hoof lamellar tissue transcriptome of n...
Busschers E, Richardson DW.A 16-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was examined because of chronic right forelimb lameness. Results: On radiographs of the right front foot, the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint space was narrow, and osteophytes and periarticular bony proliferation indicative of severe osteoarthritis were seen. Arthrodesis of the right DIP joint was recommended to improve the horse's comfort on the limb. Results: The horse was anesthetized, and palmar and dorsal arthroscopic approaches were used to remove as much of the articular cartilage as was accessible. Holes were then drilled through the dorsal aspect ...
Rubio-Martínez LM, Vázquez FJ, Romero A, Ormazábal JR.This paper reports on luxation of the elbow joint without concomitant fracture in a 1-month-old foal. Conservative treatment, with closed reduction and full-limb bandaging, including caudal and lateral splints, seemed successful initially, however, failed to provide enough stability and luxation recurred, and open reduction and surgical placement of prosthetic collateral ligaments was required. Luxation of the elbow joint should be considered when acute non-weight bearing forelimb lameness occurs associated with pain and swelling in the area of the elbow in young foals. Closed reduction failed...
Faramarzi B, Hung F, Dong F.Variations in hoof conformation may alter stress distribution, thus predisposing horses to pathologies and lameness; however, experimental studies are scarce. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between midstance hoof kinetics at the walk and hoof conformation in horses. Nine clinically sound, unshod horses were walked over a pressure plate, and force (F), contact area (CA), contact pressure (CP), and peak contact pressure (PCP) were recorded at the dorsal, palmar, medial, and lateral regions, as well as for the whole hoof. By using digital radiography and digital pictures, 55 var...
Giacchi A, Marcatili M, Withers J, Knottenbelt D.A 12-year-old Warmblood mare was presented with an acute onset left hindlimb lameness associated with generalised soft tissue swelling of the entire limb and medial saphenous vein (MSV) thrombophlebitis. A presumptive diagnosis of extremity compartment syndrome (ECS) was made. Due to the clinical deterioration, emergency fasciotomy of the crural fascia and biopsy was performed. Histological and immunohistochemical examination of the samples confirmed a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma likely originating from the tunica media of the MSV. This report is the first to describe an unique combination of ...
Zerpa H, Bailey SR, Berhane Y, Elliott J.Alpha-adrenoceptors mediate contractile responses in equine digital veins (EDVs) and arteries. Vascular smooth muscle alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes have been implicated in a number of conditions, such as acute equine laminitis, and are therapeutic targets for the treatment of this condition. Digital veins, rather than arteries, were investigated in the present study because they have been specifically implicated in the pathophysiology of acute laminitis. The order of potency of a series of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor-selective agonists and antagonists was determined in isolated rings of EDVs under ...
Davidson EJ, Ross MW, Parente EJ.Little information exists regarding talus fractures in the horse and there have been no previously published case series of racehorses diagnosed with incomplete sagittal fracture of the talus. Objective: To describe the diagnosis, treatment and post injury performance of horses with incomplete sagittal fracture of the talus. Methods: Medical records of 11 racehorses (8 Standardbreds and 3 Thoroughbreds) admitted between January 1992 and January 1999 were reviewed. Subject details, anamnesis, results of lameness examination, radiographs and nuclear scintigraphic findings were evaluated. Racing ...
Rollot Y, Lecuyer E, Chateau H, Crevier-Denoix N.As critical locomotion events (e.g. high-speed and impacts during racing, jump landing) may contribute to tendinopathies, in vivo recording of gaits kinematic and dynamic parameters is essential for 3D reconstruction and analysis. Objective: To propose a 3D model of the forelimb and a ground reaction force recording shoe (GRF-S) for noninvasively quantifying tendon and ligament loads and strains. Methods: Bony segments trajectories of forelimbs placed under a power press were recorded using triads of ultrasonic kinematic markers linked to the bones. Compression cycles (from 500-6000 N) were ap...
Cota LO, Malacarne BD, Dias LA, Neto ACP, Kneipp MLA, Cavalcante MA, Cunha MSLD, Paz CFR, Carvalho AM, Faleiros RR, Xavier ABDS.The analgesic specificity of navicular bursa (NB) anesthetic infiltration is still questionable. The study aimed to determine the mechanical nociceptive threshold of non-specific analgesia in the dorsal lamellar stratum, as well as in the sole, coronary band, and heel bulbs of the hoof, after navicular bursa anesthetic infiltration. Six healthy horses with no clinical or radiographic changes of the digits and no communication between the NB and the distal interphalangeal joint, were used. After random selection, the NB of one of the forelimbs was infiltrated with 2% lidocaine and the contralat...
Yarbrough TB, Lee MR, Hornof WJ, Koblik PD, Brodack J, Troup C, O'Brien TR, Pool R.To determine the effects of Samarium-153 bound to hydroxyapatite microspheres (153SmM) when injected into the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses. Methods: - Horses were injected with 153SmM in metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints with the diagonal contralateral joints used as untreated controls. Methods: Twelve adult horses without pre-existing disease involving the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints. Methods: Horses were divided into three groups: high-dose Samarium-153 (12.5 to 17.0 millicurie [mCi]), intermediate dose (6.5 to 12.0 mCi), and low dose...
Brosnan RJ, Steffey EP, Esteller-Vico A, Vaughan B, Liu IK.Digital perfusion pressure (DPP) equals mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the hoof coronet minus digital interstitial pressure (DIP) within the hoof. To test whether lamellar blood flow (LBF) changes proportionately to DPP, anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane in six horses to target a MAP of 60 mmHg. Arterial, venous, and hoof interstitial pressures were measured in each pelvic limb. LBF was measured using fluorescent microspheres during dobutamine infusions targeting either 60 (low), 80 (medium), or 100 (high) mmHg MAP. Following euthanasia, hoof lamina was collected for micro...
Olive J, Vila T, Serraud N.To compare navicular bone marrow lesion (BML) conspicuity in the feet of horses as determined via 2 fat-suppressed MRI techniques, including standard short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and inversion recovery gradient echo (IRGE). Methods: Feet (n = 150) of horses with lameness referable to the distal portion of the digit. Methods: STIR and IRGE sequences were obtained prospectively in all feet with a standing low-field equine MRI system. Presence of a BML was ascertained by identification of a characteristic combination of marrow alterations in T1-weighted, T2*-weighted, T2-weighted, and STIR...
Stanek C.A retrospective study (1984-1994) was made of 10 cases of septic arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses aged 7 months to 17 years. In 6 cases a hind limb was affected, in 4 cases a front limb. The arthritis was caused either by a puncture wound in the sole area (8 cases), by a perforating wound in the coronary region (1) or iatrogenic (1). All horses exhibited a severe lameness at the walk. Radiography showed no typical lesions in fresh cases, whilst later an increasing subluxation of the joint was observed followed by periosteal reactions. Therapy included partial resection o...
