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.
Mishra PC, Leach DH.The venous organisation of the dermal lamellae of the equine hoof wall of 18 pairs of forelimb hooves from clinically healthy horses was studied using plastic vascular corrosion casts, and scanning electron microscopic and histological techniques. A consistent pattern of venous organisation was observed in the dermal lamella of the toe, quarter and heel regions. The lamellar corium had an extensive interconnecting capillary network which drained into axially located veins of the primary dermal lamella. Many of the capillaries had a proximodistal orientation and most of those located at the int...
Yovich JV, Hilbert BJ, McGill CA.Nineteen cases of fracture of the distal phalanx in horses are reviewed. This represented 1.1% of the total number of horses seen at Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital (MUVH) over a 32-month period. All horses were managed conservatively. Eight horses made a complete recovery. Three are being trained again and are not lame. Four horses made a limited recovery. Two horses are still resting and one horse was killed humanely when it still showed lameness after 2 years. One horse was killed humanely after the fracture was first diagnosed.
Clarke LL, Garner HE, Hatfield D.Acute laminitis-hypertension was produced by carbohydrate overloading of the gastrointestinal tract in 12 adult horses. Obel grade 3 (OG3) lameness developed 40 hours (+/- 3.5, SEM) after overfeeding. At OG3 lameness, mean plasma volume was significantly decreased (P less than 0.005) when compared with base-line values. Before OG3 lameness, transient decreases in serum phosphorus and calcium were recorded. Mild hyponatremia also developed before OG3 lameness and persisted. After establishment of OG3 lameness, persistent hypokalemia and increased plasma aldosterone concentration occurred coinci...
Trotter GW, McIlwraith CW, Norrdin RW, Turner AS.Degenerative joint disease of the proximal interphalangeal joint was diagnosed in 9 joint of 6 horses. All of the horses were 3 years old or younger and the affected joints were in the hindlimbs. Radiographic evidence of osteochondrosis involving the distal end of the proximal phalanx was apparent in 5 joints. Lameness and local soft tissue swelling were prominent in all cases. In 1 horse euthanatized tissues because of lameness, histologic examination of joint tissues revealed osteochondrosis as well as severe osteoarthritis. Surgical arthrodesis of the affected joint was performed on 2 horse...
Bramlage LR, Hanes GE.A 3-year-old Thoroughbred mare was examined because of hindlimb lameness from incomplete fracture of the tibia, which became a complete diaphyseal fracture during the examination. The fracture was repaired by open reduction and internal fixation with lag screws and 2 neutralization plates. A cranial approach was used and the plates were placed craniolateral and medial on the tibia. At 18 months after surgery, there was no evidence of complications resulting from the fracture or its repair. It was concluded that a cranial approach with craniolateral and medial plate placement allows easier inse...
Edwards GB.During a 3 year period 20 horses with bone spavin were treated by surgical arthrodesis of the affected joints. The horses chosen for surgery were those with osteoarthritis, but with little or no evidence of periostitis. Whenever possible they were examined periodically during the postoperative period to evaluate the lameness and to assess the progress of ankylosis by radiography. Three of the horses were still lame 12 months later. The remainder returned to normal work, although one subsequently developed spavin in the other hock and was destroyed. The earliest return to soundness was 3 1/2 mo...
Stick JA, Jann HW, Scott EA, Robinson NE.We reviewed 91 cases of laminitis in horses admitted to the Michigan State University Veterinary Clinical Center between Jan 1, 1973 and Dec. 30, 1978. From information in the case records and from the results of a telephone questionnaire, cases were classified into 4 categories on the basis of return to athletic function. The degree of pedal bone rotation was inversely correlated with return to athletic performance. Horses with less than 5.5 degrees rotation returned to former athletic function, whereas horses with more than 11.5 degrees rotation lost their use as performance animals. Ponies ...
Stewart B, Reid CF.Osseous cyst-like lesions of the medial femoral condyle were found in 32 horses admitted to the University of Pennsylvania between 1971 and 1978. Sex or breed predilection was not found. In 12 horses, osseous cysts were found in both hindlimbs. Of the 25 horses on which follow-up information was obtained, 16 became sound and useful between 4 months and 1 year after diagnosis. Horses that became lame before 3 years of age had a better chance for later soundness. Horses that became sound had significantly smaller cysts than those that remained lame.
Gunson DE, Kowalczyk DF, Shoop CR, Ramberg CF.Several suspect causes of chronic zinc/cadmium toxicosis in horses near a zinc smelter were investigated following observations of lameness, swollen joints, and unthriftiness, particularly in foals. Two foals born and raised near the smelter were lame and had joint swellings that were attributable to severe generalized osteochondrosis. Zinc and cadmium concentrations were markedly increased in the pancreas, liver, and kidney. The serum of 1 foal, zinc and potassium concentrations were high, whereas calcium and magnesium concentrations were low. Marked nephrocalcinosis and osteoporosis were obs...
Jeffcott LB, Kold SE.A radiographic technique is described for the equine stifle joint with the horse in the standing position or under general anaesthesia. The method with the animal anaesthetised in the dorsal recumbency and the leg extended was preferred because it gave greater flexibility with a better range of views and greatly reduced the safety hazards. In the standing position a useful practical tip for the lateral view was to raise and extent the limb caudally. This provides some flexion and ventral movement of the stifle allowing improved access for the cassette, a more accurate lateral view of the joint...
Sprouse R, Garner H, Eyestone W.The occurrence of the Local Shwartzman Reaction (LSR) in equine species has not previously been reported. The molecular mechanism appears identical to that reported for the rabbit and other species. The immunopathologic and histopathologic similarities of the experimentally induced LSR in horses and ponies to that of the hoof-laminae (an extension of the skin) lesion in naturally-occurring and/or carbohydrate induced laminitis may offer insight into the pathogenesis of this complex disease.
Verschooten F, De Moor A.Twenty-nine horses were examined over a period of 8 years and found to have cystic lesions in the stifle (14 cases) or pedal bone (15 cases). The lesions are described and illustrated with radiographs. In the stifle 12 lesions were found on the femoral condyles (11 medially and one laterally) and 10 were typical subchondral cysts. One lesion was observed in the tibia and 3 in the patella. Bone cysts wee found unilaterally in the pedal bone (14 in the forelimbs and one in the hindlimb). All but 2 of the horses with lesions in the stifle or pedal bone were lame. The only treatment was rest. For ...
Jakovljevic S, Gibbs C, Yeats JJ.The clinical features, radiographic findings, management and outcome in 13 cases of traumatic fracture of the hock joint are reported. The principal fracture sites were the distal tibial malleoli (5 cases), the fibular tarsal bone (4 cases), the tibial tarsal bone (3 cases) and the proximal end of metatarsal IV (one case). An additional small chip fracture of the central tarsal was noted in 2 cases. Three horses were destroyed immediately after diagnosis, 2 failed to recover following surgical intervention and one remained lame and was destroyed after 3 months' rest. Seven horses recovered com...
Jeffcott LB, Kold SE.The clinical and radiological characteristics of stifle lameness in 86 horses are described. The majority of these cases had been lame for some weeks before referral. The most frequent diagnoses made were osteochondrosis dissecans (13 per cent) and subchondral bone cyst (38 per cent). Both of these conditions were seen principally in Thoroughbreds at or before the onset of training. The other bone lesions encountered were osteoarthritis (3 per cent), fractures (4 per cent) and "epiphysitis" (1 per cent). The commonest soft tissue condition was an atypical or partial upward fixation of the pate...
Lindsay WA, McMartin RB, McClure JR.Five cases of fracture of the third tarsal bone in racehorses are reported. A method of surgical correction employing a cortical bone screw is described in 2 cases. Healing of the fractures was followed radiographically. Surgical repair permitted both horses to return to competition. The 3 cases treated conservatively suffered a prolonged healing time and excessive new bone formation. They were unable to return to training due to persistent lameness.
Steiner JV, Rendano VT.An aneurysmal bone cyst was diagnosed in the distal metaphysis of Mt3 in a 9-month-old-Quarter Horse colt. The lesion developed between the fifth and ninth month of life and clinically appeared as a non-painful swelling which did not cause a lameness. Radiographs of the lesion showed expansion of the cortex and incomplete septa of new bone extending from the cortex into surrounding soft tissue. Surgical intervention revealed a blood filled cavity. The animal died during the immediate post-surgical period. Histopathologic evaluation of the lesion was performed.
Jeffcott LB, Kold SE.Thirty-three cases with subchondral bone cysts in the stifle are reported. The condition was most commonly seen in young Thoroughbreds and produced intermittent lameness of varying degree. Radiographically distinct areas of radiolucency were found in the distal femur or proximal tibia adjacent to the femorotibial joint. Lesions were usually unilateral but 5 horses had cysts in both stifles. The cases could be divided into 2 distinct groups. Horses in Group A (28 cases) had a large circular or dome-shaped cyst in the medial femoral condyle with a distinct communication with the femorotibial joi...
Rooney JR.Sacroiliac arthrosis is a major cause of "hiking" lameness (often, so-called "stifle lameness") in Standardbred horses. The cause of this arthrosis is found in the moment forces generated as horses negotiate unbanked and underbanked turns and in the forces generated on cambered racing surfaces. The prediction is that such lameness could be virtually eliminated if racetrack and training track turns were properly banked and camber held to a minimum.
Moore JN, Garner HE, Coffman JR.Experimental carbohydrate overload of 15 horses resulted in consistent haematological changes during development of laminitis hypertension. Significant alterations in packed cell volume, leucocyte differential count, serum glucose levels and protein values occurred before onset of Obel grade 3 lameness and hyperkinetic circulatory state. Blood platelets were significantly decreased 8 h after the onset of severe lameness. Findings in this study were indicative of haemoconcentration due to compartmental fluid shifts and leucocytic stress response consistent with increased circulating adrenogluco...
Bailey CJ, Reid SW, Hodgson DR, Rose RJ.A prospective study of injuries and disease in a cohort of Australian thoroughbreds in training was conducted with the participation of 24 trainers. From the horses catalogued at a major yearling sale in 1995, 169 were enrolled in the study and followed through their two- and three-year-old racing seasons. The principal aim was to quantify the time lost in training as a result of the various categories of injuries and disease, recorded as either days of modified training, or weeks rested at pasture. Shin soreness was the most common condition in two-year-olds (affecting 42 per cent of the hors...
Bragulla H, Budras KD, Reilly JD.The fetal development of the white line (Zona alba) in the equine hoof is described. Its specific structure of lamellar and interlamellar horn, which in turn is composed of cap and terminal horn, is formed in the second half of the hoof's fetal development. In equine fetuses with a crown-rump length of less than 550 mm, the hoof capsule lacks a 'characteristic' white line since no borders between stratum medium, stratum internum and sole horn are discernible. In the hoof of an equine fetus with a crown-rump length of 550 mm, a narrow white line has taken shape. Its shallow lamellae are arrange...
Sweeney CR, Sweeney RW, Divers TJ.Case records of 48 foals with pneumonia due to Rhodococcus equi were reviewed. Twenty of the 48 foals survived and 28 died or were euthanized. There was no significant difference between the survivors and non-survivors in the age of onset of illness, duration of illness prior to admission, the mean white blood cell (WBC) count, or the mean plasma fibrinogen content. All foals had R. equi isolated from a tracheobronchial aspirate or lung specimens obtained at necropsy. All organisms were susceptible in vitro (Kirby-Bauer) to erythromycin and gentamicin. Susceptibilities to other drugs were: tri...
Yorke EH, Judy CE, Saveraid TC, McGowan CP, Caldwell FJ.Distal border fragments of the navicular bone are increasingly being detected due to the improved capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), but their clinical significance remains unclear. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the location, size, and frequency of fragments in a cohort of horses presented for MRI of the foot and to compare MRI findings with severity of lameness. Archived MRI studies and medical records were searched from March 2006 to June 2008. Horses were included if a distal border fragment of the navicular bone was visible in MRI scans. Confidence ...
The research article describes the treatment, recovery process, and prognosis of a 2-month old Quarter Horse, who suffered from severe lameness in the left forelimb due to an avulsion-type fracture […]
Auer J.Degenerative joint disease is the most frequently diagnosed problem of the carpus. Horses afflicted with this disease should not be injected with corticosteroids, but should be rested for several months. Swimming exercise and intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid during this time help to restore the integrity of the involved joints. Chip fractures of the various carpal bones and the distal radius are commonly diagnosed as the cause of the lameness. Not all horses with carpal fractures are candidates for surgery. It is important that the severity of the problem be realized and that the ...
Skelly-Smith E, Ireland J, Dyson S.There have been no detailed descriptions of the radiological appearance of the centrodistal joint interosseous ligament region in horses with and without distal tarsal joint pain. Objective: To describe the normal radiological appearance of the centrodistal joint interosseous ligament region; to determine the prevalence of mineralisation or ossification of the interosseous ligament; and to describe radiological abnormalities surrounding the interosseous space and concurrent radiological abnormalities in the tarsus. The association between interosseous ligament region abnormalities and radiolog...
During the last century and today, the Tennessee walking horse has been used primarily for pleasure and show competition. Unique and natural to the breed is a smooth four-beat “running walk” gait. In the 1950s the accentuated or exaggerated running walk, known as the “big lick” became popular at high-level competitions. The combination of exaggerated high-action step in front and long stride behind is still considered desirable in today's horse show competitions, and it is often achieved through soring. Soring is the practice of applying a substance or mechanical device to the lower li...
Floriano D, Gorenberg E, Watkins A, Hopster K.To test the influence of increasing injectate volumes on the regional effects of xylazine and morphine epidural analgesia, with the hypothesis that increasing volume produces more cranial spread of analgesia as determined by thermal threshold (TT) testing. Methods: 6 university-owned research/teaching horses (2 mares, 4 geldings) deemed healthy on physical examination and basic lameness evaluation, aged 6-19 years and weighing 420-560 kg, were used in this prospective, randomized, blinded, cross-over experimental study. Methods: After routine placement of a caudal epidural catheter, all animal...
Bolz NM, Ehrle A, Mählmann K, Lischer CJ.To describe cases with caudal cruciate ligament (CdCL) avulsion fragments diagnosed based on computed tomography (CT) examination and report on arthroscopic fragment removal. Methods: Four Warmblood horses with hindlimb lameness and osseous fragments located in the caudal medial femorotibial joint (mFTJ). Methods: Short case series. Methods: CT and arthroscopic evaluation of the caudal mFTJ were performed. The caudal mFTJ and the insertion of the CdCL on the tibia were assessed and removal of the avulsion fragments was attempted in three horses using a cranial intercondylar approach. Results: ...
Buser LI, Torelli N, Andreis S, Witte S, Spadavecchia C.The Centre of Pressure (COP) is the single point summarising all forces transferred to the hoof during the stance phase of a stride. COP path (COPp) is the trajectory that COP follows from footstrike to lift-off. Aim of the present study was to characterize the COP and COPp in horses affected by osteoarthritis and chronic lameness. Seventeen adult horses with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and single limb chronic lameness were recruited. The COP was recorded using a wireless pressure measuring system (TekScan®) with sensors taped to the hooves (either fore- or hind limb, depending on lameness ...
Cullen MD, Pettitt RA, Tomlinson AW, Louro LF, Bennell AJ, Michael R, Stack JD.To describe the surgical treatment, postoperative management, and outcome of a miniature horse undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: Case report. Methods: A 4-year-old miniature horse stallion weighing 85 kg. Methods: The horse presented with left coxofemoral luxation of ~6 weeks duration. Computed tomography confirmed craniodorsal luxation with marked degenerative changes to the femoral head. The horse underwent THA using cementless press fit implants, including an interlocking lateral bolt for the femoral stem. Results: The horse recovered well from anesthesia but suffered a ...
Lynch N, Taylor CJ, McGilvray T, Tucker R, Bathe A, Elliott CRB, Smith RKW.Desmitis of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon (ALDDFT) is a commonly reported injury. Despite the commonality of this injury, the literature is limited to small case series, with the reported success following treatment varying from 18% to 75%. Objective: To identify the prognosis and factors associated with a return to work following ALDDFT injury. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records of horses from four equine hospitals (January 2000 and December 2018) with a diagnosis of desmitis of ALDDFT were reviewed. Data retrieved included case detail, use...
Byström A, Hardeman AM, Engell MT, Swagemakers JH, Koene MHW, Serra-Bragança FM, Rhodin M, Hernlund E.In horses, hip hike asymmetry, i.e. left-right difference in hip upwards movement during hind limb protraction in trot, is a crucial lameness sign. Vertical hip movements are complex, influenced by both pelvic roll and pelvic vertical motion. Veterinarians find it challenging to identify low-grade lameness, and knowledge of normal variation is a prerequisite for discerning abnormalities. This study, which included 100 clinically sound Warmblood horses, aimed to describe normal variation in pelvic roll stride patterns. Data were collected during straight-line trot in hand using optical motion c...
Schmidt TE, Gleason CB, Samaniego MR, White RR.Failure to properly prepare the equine athlete for exercise and support post-exercise recovery is a contributing factor to physical breakdown and lameness. Equine physiotherapy was not introduced until the early twentieth century and has since evolved to allow for wearable therapies such as therapeutic boots to be accessible to a broad spectrum of equestrians. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ceramic boots, boots combining vibration and cryotherapy, and boots containing tourmaline on the performance of sport horses during jumping as well as to examine changes in vital s...
Auth AK, Hinnigan GJ, Smith MA, Owen KR.Low-field, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an advanced imaging modality widely used to diagnose distal limb pathology in horses, but there are limited data regarding lesion distribution within the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint (MCP/MTPJ) region in lame nonracehorses. The aim of this study was to describe the low-field MRI findings and lesion distribution in nonracehorses with MCP/MTPJ region pain. Clinical records from horses undergoing MRI of the MCP/MTPJ region between July 2016 and March 2023 were reviewed. Horses were included if pain causing lameness was localized to this region...
Vlahos TP.Tendinopathy and desmopathy are significant causes of morbidity in horses. To evaluate the use of percutaneous ultrasonic debridement (PUD) as a treatment for chronic tendinopathy and desmopathy in the horse. Eight adult horses with 10 affected limbs presented for lameness, ranging from 60-700 days postinjury. Diagnostic ultrasound identified the following: suspensory branch desmitis ( = 1), suspensory body desmitis ( = 2), Achilles tendinopathy ( = 1), desmitis of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor (DDF) tendon ( = 1), DDF tendinopathy ( = 2), and superficial digital flexor ten...
Pige C, Spriet M, Perez-Nogues M, Katzman S, Le Jeune S, Galuppo L. F-sodium fluoride ( F-NaF) positron emission tomography (PET) has been validated as a useful imaging technique in the racehorse fetlock. The use of F-NaF PET in the nonracehorse fetlock has not been reported. Objective: To describe F-NaF PET findings in nonracehorse fetlocks, to compare with computed tomography (CT) findings and to compare PET findings between horses with and without fetlock pain. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: All horses undergoing F-NaF PET and CT imaging of the fetlock between October 2016 and March 2021 were included in the study. Medical records ...
Everett JB, Menarim BC, Barrett SH, Bogers SH, Byron CR, Pleasant RS, Werre SR, Dahlgren LA.Osteoarthritis (OA) can be debilitating and is related to impaired resolution of synovial inflammation. Current treatments offer temporary relief of clinical signs, but have potentially deleterious side effects. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) are a rich source of macrophage progenitors that have the ability to reduce OA symptoms in people and inflammation in experimentally-induced synovitis in horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of intra-articular BMNC therapy to improve clinical signs of naturally occurring equine OA. Horses presenting with clinical and radio...
Anderson KA, Morrice-West AV, Wong ASM, Walmsley EA, Fisher AD, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL.Musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses are difficult to detect prior to catastrophic breakdown. Lameness is commonly attributed to orthopaedic pain in horses, therefore, subtle lameness may be a pre-clinical sign of injury and, if identified early, could allow for preventative intervention. Our objective was to determine if facial expressions could be used to detect mild lameness as an indicator of orthopaedic pain in 'fit to race' horses. The Horse Grimace Scale (HGS) and the facial expressions in ridden horses (FEReq), were used to score images (n = 380) of mildly lame (n = 21) and non-lame ...
Pfau T, Landsbergen K, Davis BL, Kenny O, Kernot N, Rochard N, Porte-Proust M, Sparks H, Takahashi Y, Toth K, Scott WM.With an increasing number of systems for quantifying lameness-related movement asymmetry, between-system comparisons under non-laboratory conditions are important for multi-centre or referral-level studies. This study compares an artificial intelligence video app to a validated inertial measurement unit (IMU) gait analysis system in a specific group of horses. Methods: Twenty-two reining Quarter horses were equipped with nine body-mounted IMUs while being videoed with a smartphone app. Both systems quantified head and pelvic movement symmetry during in-hand trot (hard/soft ground) and on the l...
Anoushepour A, Eftekhari S, Masoudifard M.Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) plays an important role in the locomotion of the horses with flexion of the limbs. In the hind limb, it passes over the calcaneal bone and attaches to medial and lateral surfaces of calcaneous by two bands of connective tissue; while, the medial band is weaker than the lateral one. Occasionally, severe trauma, over-extension or fracture of the calcaneous may cause rupture of the supportive bands leading to tendon luxation. An 11-year-old Thoroughbred jumping gelding with symptoms of lameness in both legs, after examination by an internal specialist vete...
Larsen CD, Wilkinson TE, Roberts GD, Guess SC, Mattoon JS, Sanz MG.To evaluate the radiographic thickness of the dorsal hoof wall in normal draft horse feet. Methods: 33 adult draft horses with no history of laminitis, no clinically obvious lameness, and visibly unremarkable front feet were included. Methods: This was a prospective, descriptive study of clinically normal draft horses' front feet. Lateromedial radiographs were acquired of the front feet. A ratio of the dorsal hoof wall thickness to the length of the distal phalanx (DHWP3 ratio) was calculated. Results: The dorsal hoof wall thickness to length of the distal phalanx was calculated as 0.33 ± 0.0...
Knych HK, Katzman S, McKemie DS, Arthur RM, Blea J.Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that is sometimes administered in combination with epinephrine. The addition of epinephrine increases the time lidocaine remains at the site of administration, thus prolonging the duration of effect. Due to their potential to prevent the visual detection of lameness, the administration of local anesthetics is strictly regulated in performance and racehorses. Recent reports of positive regulatory findings for lidocaine in racehorses suggests a better understanding of the behavior of this drug is warranted. The objective of the current study was to describe serum ...
Webster A, Pezzanite L, Hendrickson D, Griffenhagen G.Equine practitioners frequently inject local anaesthetics (LA) intra-articularly in both diagnosis of lameness and for pain management intra- or post-operatively with synovial endoscopy. Recent reviews of the human and veterinary literature support the concept that chondrotoxicity of LA on joint tissues depends on the type of drug, dose administered, and duration of exposure. The purpose of this review is to summarise the current literature describing intra-articular local anaesthetic use, including both in vitro and in vivo studies, and to draw some comparisons to literature from other specie...
Burk J, Wittenberg-Voges L, Schubert S, Horstmeier C, Brehm W, Geburek F.The treatment of tendinopathies with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is a promising option in equine and human medicine. However, conclusive clinical evidence is lacking. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into clinical treatment efficacy and to identify suitable outcome measures for larger clinical studies. Fifteen horses with early naturally occurring tendon disease were assigned to intralesional treatment with allogeneic adipose-derived MSCs suspended in serum or with serum alone through block randomization (dosage adapted to lesion size). Clinicians and horse owners...
Barton CK, Samol MA, Nelson BB, Piquini G, Smanik LE, Goodrich LR.To raise awareness of the potential for intra-articular subchondral bone sequestrum formation secondary to a traumatic or septic process to enable more rapid identification of this uncommon but possible outcome in future cases. Methods: A client-owned 12-year-old Appaloosa mare. Unassigned: The mare had a wound to the lateral aspect of the fourth metatarsal bone (MT4) that communicated with the distal tarsal joints. Radiographs revealed a displaced, comminuted fracture of MT4. Results: The horse underwent aggressive debridement of the wound and MT4 as well as, on 2 occasions, needle joint lava...
Vidović A, Kuhn S.Fractures of the splint bones are the most common fractures in horses. Various treatment options for splint bone fractures (MC/MT II and IV), including conservative and surgical management, have been described. This report describes an acute splint bone fracture due to external trauma in a 17-year-old Icelandic mare. The fracture was diagnosed as an open multifragment fracture of the proximal third of the fourth metacarpal bone (MCIV) in the right front limb. Surgery was performed with the horse under general anaesthesia. The distal fragments were removed, and the distal part of the proximal r...
Macaire C, Hanne-Poujade S, De Azevedo E, Denoix JM, Coudry V, Jacquet S, Bertoni L, Tallaj A, Audigié F, Hatrisse C, Hébert C, Martin P, Marin F....The assessment of lameness in horses can be aided by objective gait analysis tools. Despite their key role of evaluating a horse at trot on a circle, asymmetry thresholds have not been determined for differentiating between sound and lame gait during this exercise. These thresholds are essential to distinguish physiological asymmetry linked to the circle from pathological asymmetry linked to lameness. This study aims to determine the Asymmetry Indices (AIs) with the highest power to discriminate between a group of sound horses and a group of horses with consistent unilateral lameness across bo...
Andersen C, Jacobsen S, Uvebrant K, Griffin JF, Vonk LA, Walters M, Berg LC, Lundgren-Åkerlund E, Lindegaard C.Integrin α10β1-selected mesenchymal stem cells (integrin α10-MSCs) have previously shown potential in treating cartilage damage and osteoarthritis (OA) and in animal models . The aim of this study was to further investigate disease-modifying effects of integrin α10-MSCs. Methods: OA was surgically induced in 17 horses. Eighteen days after surgery, horses received 2 × 10 integrin α10-MSCs intra-articularly or were left untreated. Lameness and response to carpal flexion was assessed weekly along with synovial fluid (SF) analysis. On day 52 after treatment, horses were euthanized, and carp...
