Radiology for horses involves the use of imaging techniques to diagnose and monitor various conditions affecting equine health. These techniques include X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each modality provides different types of information, aiding in the evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory issues, and abdominal problems, among others. Radiographic imaging is instrumental in identifying fractures, joint abnormalities, and dental issues. Ultrasound is often used for soft tissue evaluation and reproductive assessments. CT and MRI offer detailed cross-sectional images, enhancing the understanding of complex anatomical structures and pathologies. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the applications, advancements, and findings in the field of equine radiology.
Ennsmann LH, Licka TF.Most horses are used with horseshoes additionally supported by either dorsoabaxial or dorsal clips. The effects of such clips on bone density and shape of the distal phalanx are currently unclear. The aim of this study was to identify correlations between density and shape of the distal phalanx, comparing front hooves unshod or shod with standard shoes either with two dorsoabaxial clips or with a single dorsal clip. Researchers analyzed Oxspring radiographs of either the left or right front hoof from warmblood horses ( = 137) and ponies ( = 43) aged 3-28 years. The evaluation focused...
Campana S, Dittmann M, Kircher P, Donati B.The distribution pattern of central tarsal bone (CTB) changes has not been described, except for slab- and dorsomedial-plantarolateral fractures. Objective: To describe CTB changes in CT and document their distribution and associations. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Standing and recumbent tarsal CT studies from 94 clinical cases were retrospectively evaluated. General case information, degree of sclerosis (none-severe), lesions (demineralisation, cystoid, fissure/fracture) and their location were recorded, dividing CTBs into 8 regions. Results: Eighty five of 94 tarsi showed at ...
Tumber MR, Burke MK.Lameness in horses resulting from foot pathology is very common. When investigating the cause of a lameness localised to the foot, the first step is most frequently radiographic imaging. Therefore, being able to identify normal anatomy and recognise pathology on radiographs is important for a veterinary medicine student to learn. Computer-aided learning (CAL) is becoming increasingly utilised in the teaching of students on medicine-related courses, especially post-COVID where online learning has been continued in hybridisation with in-person teaching.In this study, a low-cost CAL module was cr...
Bowkett-Pritchard C, Bolt DM, Chang YM, Berner D.Equine foot radiographs are commonly obtained to measure anatomical conformation parameters. Comparison of measurements between radiographs and low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been extensively explored. Objective: To compare foot parameter measurements between radiographs and low-field MRI, and assess the effect of hoof wall markers on visualising the hoof capsule (during MRI) and facilitating measurements. Methods: Comparative cadaveric analytical study. Methods: Radiography and MRI of nine equine cadaver front feet were performed with and without hoof wall markers, which w...
Hellige M, Schröder C, Seehusen F, Cavalleri JM, Rohn K, Stadler P, Geburek F.Computed tomographic myelography (CTM) and radiographic myelography (RxM) are diagnostic for extradural spinal cord compression, but knowledge about the contrast distribution in flexion and normal position of nonaffected horses is lacking. Objective: (1) To determine the inter- and intravertebral ratios at C3-C4 of CTM in neutral and flexed positions in Warmbloods. (2) To compare the diameters of the spinal cord and the contrast columns at C3-C4 between neutral and flexed positions in CTM and RxM. (3) To evaluate the variability of measurements. Methods: Terminal in vivo method-comparison stud...
Argue BJ, Labens R.Campdrafting is a unique Australian cow horse sport, which evolved from mustering cattle and is one of Australia's fastest growing equine sports. This discipline is associated with its own unique set of musculoskeletal injuries yet to be reported. Objective: To describe the prevalence, anatomical location, and diagnostic modality used to localise lameness in campdrafting horses to better assist efficient orthopaedic management of the campdraft horse. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records were examined from one private practice equine group and one university veterinary h...
Vaughan B, McKerney ER, Wollenberger C, Cloninger A, Spriet M, Galuppo L, Stover SM.Humeral stress fractures in racehorses can progress to catastrophic fracture if unrecognised. Scintigraphy is the gold standard diagnostic technique but is limited by accessibility and cost. It was hypothesised that ultrasonography could be used to visualise caudoproximal humeral stress fractures. Objective: To determine the utility of ultrasonography to identify caudoproximal humeral stress fractures in racehorses. Methods: Clinical case series. Methods: Seven racehorses that had a clinical history consistent with the presence of a humeral stress fracture were examined using humeral ultrasono...
Mendes RP, Lima AE, da Cunha R, Bittar MJ, Vasconcelos CC, Piñeros DDV, Corrêa RR.Radiographic examination of the skull is a well-established and indispensable procedure for the diagnostic evaluation of dental and paranasal sinus disorders in horses. Complementary projections make significant contributions to radiographic diagnosis in nasal conchae disorders. This article describes a complementary radiographic projection designed for the evaluation of the conchal sinuses and bullae in horses. Six equine cadaveric heads were used. Specimens were dissected, and openings were created in the ventral and dorsal nasal conchae for the introduction of radiopaque material. The new r...
Schollmeyer M, Liebler-Tenorio EM, Felton C, Kohl S, Ulrich R.A 34-year-old Haflinger gelding presented with a unilateral, expansile, intranasal mass that regrew after partial excision. After euthanasia, a large pedunculated mass that originated from the left caudal maxillary sinus and obliterated the left nasal cavity was seen by radiological and macroscopic examination. Histopathology revealed a poorly cellular, expansile, well-vascularized neoplasm composed of a loosely arranged meshwork of spindle cells and collagen fibres. Spindle cells were immunopositive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and occasionally for vimentin, whereas endothelial cells immunol...
Kirkpatrick CJ, Ernst NS, Trumble TN.Injury to the collateral ligament (CL) of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) is recognized as a source of lameness in horses. Intralesional injection has been advocated to increase return to performance. This study was a proof-of-concept study in standing horses to evaluate success of a palmar radiographic-guided approach for injecting insertions of the DIPJ CLs previously described in cadaver limbs. Horses were sedated, nerve blocked, and placed on wooden blocks with the limb to be injected staggered approximately 20cm cranially to the other limb. The DIPJ CL insertion was injected, usin...
England D, Newsom L, White C, McKenzie E.Site selection for cervical stabilization surgery in horses with spinal ataxia frequently relies on measurements derived from radiographic myelography. A variety of measurement criteria exist and can provide conflicting results. The main objectives of this study were to assess the correlation between two commonly used myelographic measures, dorsal contrast column reduction (DCCR) and dural diameter reduction (DDR), and their association with previously selected operative sites in a population of horses operated at a tertiary clinic. Secondary objectives were to determine if articular process j...
Zazzo A, Le Corre M, Lazzerini N, Marchina C, Bayarkhuu N, Bernard V, Cervel M, Fiorillo D, Joly D, Lemoine M, Telouk P, Thil F, Turbat T, Balter V....Pastoral nomadism is of great cultural and economic importance in several regions of the world today. However, documenting ancient patterns of mobility in societies where pastoralism was central is challenging and requires tailored approaches and methodologies. Here we use strontium, oxygen and carbon isotopic analyses of dental enamel, together with a local strontium isoscape, to reconstruct the mobility patterns of seven domestic horses deposited in a Late Bronze Age grave from western Mongolia. Radiocarbon indicates that the animals were deposited within a short period of time, 3000 years a...
Hellige M, Geburek F.A number of indications exist that necessitate radiologic examination of the equine cervical spine. Different neurologic and pain-associated clinical signs within the scope of lameness or poor performance may be associated to pathologies of the cervical spine. Moreover, the number of requests for radiographic examinations of the cervical spine, for example as part of the pre-purchase examination, has increased significantly in recent years. However, the interpretation of radiographs represents a challenge, particularly in the case of clinically sound horses, as it often necessitates the resolu...
Connaughton MT, MacDonald EJ, Ireland JL, Rocchigiani G, Stack JD.Caudal wedge ostectomy has not been investigated for overriding or impinging spinous processes (SPs). Objective: To establish the feasibility of caudal wedge ostectomy and compare measures of surgical trauma and error between hypothetical caudal and cranial wedge ostectomies on SPs of different inclinations. Methods: Experimental, method comparison study. Methods: Computed tomography and caudal wedge ostectomy surgery were performed on four cadavers. Observations, technical difficulties, and surgical errors were recorded. Radiographs from 67 horses with overriding/impinging SPs were reviewed. ...
Turek B, Pawlikowski M, Jankowski K, Borowska M, Skierbiszewska K, Jasiński T, Domino M.In veterinary medicine, conventional radiography is the first-choice method for most diagnostic imaging applications in both small animal and equine practice. One direction in its development is the integration of bone density evaluation and artificial intelligence-assisted clinical decision-making, which is expected to enhance and streamline veterinarians' daily practices. One such decision-support method is k-means clustering, a machine learning and data mining technique that can be used clinically to classify radiographic signs into healthy or affected clusters. The study aims to investigat...
Son JK, De Paz P, Kim J, Sanaei R, Ryu S, Bailey S, Davies HMS.Changes in the third metacarpal (MC3) mid-diaphyseal dimensions were measured radiographically in young Thoroughbred racehorses through race training and found to be associated with a higher risk of shin soreness. However, it is still unclear whether such negative MC3 morphologies are set congenitally or through development. Objective: To quantify MC3 bone dimensional changes through growth. Methods: Longitudinal. Methods: Twenty privately owned Thoroughbred foals were radiographed bimonthly from birth to 14 months of age. Four linear MC3 parameters (proximodistal MC3 length, mid-diaphyseal do...
Kerbert MP, le Jeune SS, Philips KL, Shaw KL, Erickson CA, Espinosa-Mur P.Back pain is a common cause of poor performance in horses. However, the relationship between clinical signs and radiographic abnormalities is unclear. The aim of this study was to report radiographic findings of spinous processes in a population of Warmblood jumping horses and their association with performance. This was a descriptive observational study. One hundred Warmblood jumping horses (competing fence height: median 1.35 m, mean 1.3 m, range 0.90m-1.60 m), with no observed lameness and neurological signs, competing in 2018 were selected. Radiographs of spinous processes of the thoracolu...
Tretow M, Hain AM, Bienert-Zeit A.Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is a widespread dental disease with an unknown aetiology, mainly affecting the incisors and canine teeth of senior horses. Being clinically asymptomatic in early stages but progressively destructive and painful in many cases highlights the need for improvements in early diagnosis of EOTRH. This study describes how clinical and radiological findings correlate with distinguishing EOTRH-specific symptoms from non-specific findings. Clinical and radiographic examinations of the rostral oral cavity were performed in 154 Icelandic hor...
Jasiński T, Turek B, Kaczorowski M, Brehm W, Skierbiszewska K, Domino M.The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a unique joint that enables mandibular movement. Temporomandibular diseases (TMDs) impair joint function, leading to more or less specific clinical signs. Objective: To compile and disseminate clinical data and research findings from existing publications on equine TMD. Methods: Systematic review. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, literature searches were conducted in PUBMED, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge. The inclusion criteria covered case reports and research articles on equine TMDs. The selected records were grouped considering septic TMJ arthri...
Baville E, Carstanjen B, Thomas-Cancian A, Calgaro A, Bonnet N, Tiret L, Gache V, Abitbol M.Supernumerary digits, or polydactyly, have been described in various species including humans, wild and domestic animals. In horses, it represents the most common congenital limb malformation, which has only been described in isolated cases or nuclear families. Molecular aetiology has not been reported. Objective: To characterise the phenotype of a non-syndromic pre-axial polydactyly in a horse family and to decipher the inheritance pattern. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Forty-three members of the family including a previously reported polydactyl case were recruited. Available clinica...
Domańska-Kruppa N, Stefanik E, Wierzbicka M, Kleinpeter A.Cervical spine injuries that impact young horses and foals can result in mild to severe neurological signs or even result in sudden death. There are only a few reports on conservative treatment options for this condition in the scientific literature. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to the development of degenerative joint disease, resulting in chronic neurological symptoms and discomfort. We present the case of a two-day-old Arabian foal that showed signs of ataxia following a neck injury, being the result of cervical spine subluxation. Radiological examination revealed a dislo...
Drahonovska A, O'Neill HD. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the need for flexed radiographs of the proximal medial trochlear ridge (PMTR) after trauma involving medial tarsus; (2) to evaluate outcome following arthroscopic removal of traumatic osteochondral fragments (TOCF) resulting from direct injury to PMTR. Methods: Records of patients with wounds to the medial tarsus were searched and those with TOCF of the PMTR included. Patient history, fracture etiology, preoperative diagnostics, and intraoperative findings were documented. Postoperative performance data were collected using Thoroughbred R...
Nugent Z, Jensen A, Owen N, Peffers AJ, Moothanchery M, Peffers MJ.Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) is a painful disorder primarily affecting the incisor teeth of horses over 15 years of age. Clinical signs of the disease include prehension problems, halitosis and in severe cases weight loss. The disease predominately affects the reserve crown and presents as a loss of dental tissue and excessive build-up of cementum. Objective: To determine the radiographic scores of horses with EOTRH and age-matched controls and to increase understanding of EOTRH using microCT to compare teeth from horses with EOTRH and age-matched control...
Schaus K, Wacker J, Jandowsky A, Büttner K, Röcken M, Bartmann CP.Morphometric measurements of the toe serve as a reference for the objective assessment of the presence of a pathological condition and as a guide for the correct trimming of the hooves. Therefore, the anatomical differences between horses and donkeys oblige an autonomous database with reference values for the donkey. The aim of this study was therefore to provide readings of the distal hind limb on radiographs of donkeys. Radiographs of the distal hind limb in two projections of 41 generally sound donkeys without lameness in walk were taken after previous hoof trimming and preparation accordin...
Skelton G, Acutt E, Stefanovski D, van Eps A.Traditional radiographic measurements of distal phalanx (Pd) displacement based on the outer hoof wall are not useful for diagnosis of acute laminitis. Objective: We hypothesised that the distance between the inner hoof wall and Pd ('lamellar lucent zone'; LLZ) measured on lateromedial digital radiographs would be increased in horses with acute and subacute laminitis compared with healthy horses. Methods: Retrospective cohort study and in vivo experimental study. Methods: Forelimb radiographs from 32 healthy and 18 laminitic mixed-breed horses were analysed retrospectively. Laminitis was defin...
Charles A, Peeters X, Verbrugghe C, Vandersmissen M, Evrard L, Busoni V.The Pivot Point (PP) method is commonly used in the radiographic assessment of carpal deformities in young foals, as the range of deviation may influence treatment choice. The aims of this study were to assess the intra- and interobserver reproducibility of the PP method and subjective radiographic evaluation without line drawing to establish the anatomical site responsible for carpal deviation in foals and to evaluate the agreement between these two techniques. Unassigned: Anonymized radiographs of foals presented for investigation of carpal deformity or prematurity were retrospectively and i...
McMullen RJ.To review data on the advances in equine ophthalmic imaging that have been made during the past 5 years and highlight advantages of using multiple imaging modalities to improve clinical observational skills and improve diagnostic accuracy. Methods: A literature review from 2019 through 2024 of equine ophthalmic digital photography, fundus photography, ocular and orbital ultrasonography (US), ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM), confocal microscopy (CM), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), radiography, CT, and MRI. Results: Digital photography remains the cornerstone of equine oph...
Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D.Osteochondral fragments within equine joints are commonly encountered and may predispose to lameness and limitation to sport purposes. Factors leading to this condition include genetic, nutritional and environmental conditions. However, few studies have evaluated the impact of conformation traits and their correlation with osteochondrosis. This study, based on the radiographic screenings of young horses born in Wallonia (266 individuals, 532 forelimbs), evaluated the correlation between foot, fetlock conformations of the front limb, height at the withers and presence of osteochondral fragments...
Argue BJ, Ahern BJ.The veterinary yearling pre-sale repository radiographs have the potential to impact both vendor and prospective purchaser. The primary aim of this study was to determine inter-observer agreement for orthopaedic lesions identified in thoroughbred yearling repository radiographs. A secondary goal was to determine agreement when using a pre-defined risk rating classification. Unassigned: Three experienced specialist equine surgeons (2 ACVS & 1 FANZCVS) interpreted thirty repository radiographs once each for radiographic abnormalities. Each radiographic abnormality was given an associated ris...
Dixon PM.This article reviews the different types of equine non-neoplastic and neoplastic oral and sinonasal tumors and describes their known prevalence and general characteristics. The clinical and ancillary diagnostic findings (primarily radiography and endoscopy, and increasingly computed tomography) for each type of growth that can aid diagnosis are described. Most lesions require a histopathological confirmation of the diagnosed growth. The possible treatments and prognosis for these growths are briefly described.
Calabrese EJ, Dhawan G, Kapoor R.This article assesses the therapeutic efficacy of ionizing radiation for the treatment of shoulder tendonitis/bursitis in the USA over the period of its use (human 1936-1961; veterinary 1954-1974). Results from ~3,500 human cases were reported in the clinical case studies over 30 articles, and indicated a high treatment efficacy (>90 %) for patients. Radiotherapy was effective with a single treatment. The duration of treatment effectiveness was prolonged, usually lasting until the duration of the follow-up period (i.e., 1-5 years). Therapeutic effectiveness was reduced for conditions charac...
Olive J, D'Anjou MA, Alexander K, Laverty S, Theoret C.We compared the ability of 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and computed radiography (CR) to evaluate noncartilaginous structures of the equine metacarpophalangeal joint (MCP), and the association of imaging changes with gross cartilage damage in the context of osteoarthritis. Four CR projections, helical single-slice CT, and MRI (Ti-weighted gradient recalled echo [GRE], T2*-weighted GRE with fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition [FIESTA], T2-weighted fast spin echo with fat saturation, and spoiled gradient recalled echo with fat saturation ISPGR-FS]...
Dyson SJ, Murray R, Schramme MC.The diagnosis of foot-related lameness often remains elusive and it can be difficult to offer rational treatment, or to predict outcome. Objective: To describe the spectrum of injuries of the foot identified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to determine their relative prevalence among MRI diagnoses and to establish the long-term results of treatment. Methods: The MR images of horses examined from January 2001--December 2003 were reviewed. Horses were selected for MRI if the pain causing lameness was localised to the foot using perineural analgesia but any clinical, radiological or ultra...
Morrow KL, Park RD, Spurgeon TL, Stashak TS, Arceneaux B.The head from three horses euthanized due to diseases unrelated to the head and neck was imaged using computed tomography (CT). Gross cross-sectional slices of equine head #1 and skeleton of equine head #2 were compared with the CT images of the three equine heads to identify normal structures of the cranium, brain, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and teeth. Labeled transverse CT images of the equine head are presented sequentially as a reference for normal anatomy.
Tunley BV, Henson FM.Thermographic imaging is an increasingly used diagnostic tool. When performing thermography, guidelines suggest that horses should be left for 10-20 mins to 'acclimatise' to the thermographic imaging environment, with no experimental data to substantiate this recommendation. In addition, little objective work has been published on the repeatability and reliability of the data obtained. Thermography has been widely used to identify areas of abnormal body surface temperature in horses with back pathology; however, no normal data is available on the thermographic 'map' of the thoracolumbar region...
Zimmerman M, Dyson S, Murray R.There has been no objective study comparing radiological features of spinous processes (SPs) in the thoracolumbar region and/or scintigraphic findings with clinical signs. Objective: To investigate the relationship between the presence or absence of clinical signs of back pain and: 1) radiological findings of close, impinging or overriding SPs; 2) increased radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU) in the SPs; and 3) the combination of radiological findings and IRU. Also to determine the prevalence of concurrent osseous pathology. Methods: Five-hundred and eighty-two horses, presented for perceived bac...
Tilley P, Sales Luis JP, Branco Ferreira M.As recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is progressive and as medical history is frequently unknown by owners, it's important to suggest a score model to characterize RAO stages for a more accurate diagnosis and treatment. The authors correlated clinical (CS), endoscopic (ES), thoracic X-ray (XRS) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALFS) scores in horses with RAO, in an attempt to establish relevance of each factor's contribution for the characterization of RAO stages and to suggest a staging method. Thirty horses with RAO and ten healthy controls were studied. Pearson correlation coefficients w...
Sole A, Spriet M, Galuppo LD, Padgett KA, Borjesson DL, Wisner ER, Brosnan RJ, Vidal MA.Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are commonly injected intralesionally for treatment of soft tissue injuries in the horse. Alternative routes of administration would be beneficial for treatment of lesions that cannot be accessed directly or to limit needle-induced iatrogenic damage to the surrounding tissue. Objective: The purpose of our study was to evaluate MSC distribution after intra-arterial (IA) and intravenous (IV) regional limb perfusions (RLP) using scintigraphy. We hypothesised that MSCs would persist in the distal limb after tourniquet removal and that both techniques would lead to dif...
Wong DM, Belgrave RL, Williams KJ, Del Piero F, Alcott CJ, Bolin SR, Marr CM, Nolen-Walston R, Myers RK, Wilkins PA.5 horses were evaluated because of decreased appetite, weight loss, fever, cough, tachypnea, and respiratory distress. Results: Tachycardia, tachypnea, increased respiratory effort, lethargy, fever, poor body condition, and nasal discharge were detected in various combinations on initial physical examination. Evaluation of the lower portion of the respiratory tract via radiography and ultrasonography revealed a severe nodular interstitial pattern. Histologic examination of lung tissue revealed interstitial expansion of alveolar parenchyma with collagen, intraluminal accumulation of neutrophils...
Estell KE, Young A, Kozikowski T, Swain EA, Byrne BA, Reilly CM, Kass PH, Aleman M.Klebsiella spp. are implicated as a common cause of bacterial pneumonia in horses, but few reports describe clinical presentation and disease progression. Objective: To describe the signalment, clinicopathologic data, radiographic and ultrasonographic findings, antimicrobial susceptibility, outcome, and pathologic lesions associated with Klebsiella spp. pneumonia in horses. Methods: Forty-six horses from which Klebsiella spp. was isolated from the lower respiratory tract. Methods: Retrospective study. Medical records from 1993 to 2013 at the William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hos...
Henninger W, Frame EM, Willmann M, Simhofer H, Malleczek D, Kneissl SM, Mayrhofer E.Sinusitis is a common disorder in horses and may result from trauma, dental diseases, or space-occupying lesions. Radiography can only provide a limited amount of information. Computed tomography (CT) has been documented as an alternative imaging method. Eighteen horses (mostly Warmblood) with signs of chronic sinusitis were examined preoperatively with CT to assist in diagnosis of the underlying cause. There was a group of common CT features in horses with dental disease and sinusitis. The first molar was the most frequently affected maxillary cheek tooth. Hypoattenuation of the cementum, des...
van Schie HT, Bakker EM, Cherdchutham W, Jonker AM, van de Lest CH, van Weeren PR.To evaluate quantitative ultrasonography for objective monitoring of the healing process and prognostication of repair quality in equine superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendons. Methods: 6 horses with standardized surgical lesions in SDF tendons of both forelimbs. Methods: Healing was monitored for 20 weeks after surgery by use of computerized ultrasonography. Pixels were categorized as C (intact fasciculi), B (incomplete fasciculi), E (accumulations of cells and fibrils), or N (homogenous fluid or cells). Four scars with the best quality of repair (repair group) and 4 scars with the lowest q...
Mirza MH, Bommala P, Richbourg HA, Rademacher N, Kearney MT, Lopez MJ.Mechanisms to reduce lameness associated with osteoarthritis (OA) are vital to equine health and performance. This study was designed to quantify response to autologous, intra-articular platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in horses with OA. Kinetic gait analysis was performed on 12 horses with unilateral forelimb lameness and OA in the same limb before and after intra-articular anesthesia (IAA). Radiographs and kinetic data were obtained before and 6 and 16 weeks after PRP administration to same joint, 4 weeks after IAA. Statistical evaluations included filtration effect on platelet concentration, ...
Olstad K, Ytrehus B, Ekman S, Carlson CS, Dolvik NI.The developmental pattern of the cartilage canal blood supply to epiphyseal growth cartilage has been linked to osteochondrosis (OC) in the tarsus of foals. This pattern has not yet been described in the distal femur, another site frequently affected by OC. Objective: To describe the developmental pattern of the blood supply to the distal femoral epiphyseal growth cartilage in 8 Standardbred foals age 0-7 weeks. Methods: One foal was sacrificed weekly from birth to age 7 weeks (n=8) to undergo a barium perfusion procedure to demonstrate vessels within cartilage canals of one hindlimb. The dist...
Cnudde V, Masschaele B, De Cock HE, Olstad K, Vlaminck L, Vlassenbroeck J, Dierick M, Witte YD, Van Hoorebeke L, Jacobs P.Micro-CT is a non-destructive technique for 3D tomographic investigation of an object. A 3D representation of the internal structure is calculated based on a series of X-ray radiographs taken from different angles. The spatial resolution of current laboratory-used micro-CT systems has come down over the last years from a few tens of microns to a few microns. This opens the possibility to perform histological investigations in 3D on a virtual representation of a sample, referred to as virtual 3D histology. The advantage of micro-CT based virtual histology is the immediate and automated 3D visua...
Crowe OM, Dyson SJ, Wright IM, Schramme MC, Smith RK.Proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD) is diagnosed with increasing frequency in horses and radial pressure wave therapy (RPWT) is a widely used therapy for painful orthopaedic conditions in man and dogs. There are, however, few published data as to the outcome of its use in PSD. Objective: To evaluate the use of RPWT in the treatment of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse, an injury which carries a poor prognosis for return to athletic function with conservative management alone. Objective: RPWT and controlled exercise improves the prognosis of chronic or recurrent PSD in the horse when compare...
Boyce MK, Trumble TN, Carlson CS, Groschen DM, Merritt KA, Brown MP.Develop a non-terminal animal model of acute joint injury that demonstrates clinical and morphological evidence of early post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Methods: An osteochondral (OC) fragment was created arthroscopically in one metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint of 11 horses and the contralateral joint was sham operated. Eleven additional horses served as unoperated controls. Every 2 weeks, force plate analysis, flexion response, joint circumference, and synovial effusion scores were recorded. At weeks 0 and 16, radiographs (all horses) and arthroscopic videos (OC injured and sham joints) ...
Nelson BB, Kawcak CE, Barrett MF, McIlwraith CW, Grinstaff MW, Goodrich LR.Articular cartilage is a critical joint tissue and its evaluation remains a diagnostic challenge in horses. Coupled with a poor capacity for healing, early degenerative changes in articular cartilage are difficult to characterise using routine diagnostic imaging evaluations. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide volumetric joint assessment and highlight morphological and quantitative properties of articular cartilage, improving assessment of this essential tissue. While the use of CT and MRI for joint evaluation is not new, there still remains a shortage of...
Grøndahl AM, Dolvik NI.Radiography of the tibiotarsal and metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints was performed on 753 Standardbred trotters (6 to 21 months old) born in 1988. The surveyed population was drawn at random from all parts of Norway and represented about 60% of Standardbred trotters born the same year. Osteochondrosis in the tibiotarsal joint was diagnosed in 108 (14.3%) horses, and the prevalence of disease in progeny groups > 10 ranged from 0 to 69%. Bony fragments in the palmar/plantar portion of the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints were diagnosed in 89 (11.8%) horses, and the prevalence of...
Riggs CM, Whitehouse GH, Boyde A.This study examined 3-dimensional (3D) distribution of sectors with contrasting density in the equine third metacarpal (McIII) and third metatarsal (MtIII) bones with a view to explaining the aetiology of distal condylar fractures. Macroradiography and computed tomographic (CT) imaging were used in the nondestructive study of bones obtained from horses, most of which were Thoroughbreds in race training. Distal condylar regions of McIII and MtIII were also studied in microradiographs of 100 microm thick mediolateral sections cut perpendicular to the dorsal and palmar/plantar articular surfaces....
Murray RC, Vedi S, Birch HL, Lakhani KH, Goodship AE.It was hypothesised that subchondral bone thickness, hardness and remodelling are influenced by exercise intensity, and by location within a joint. Dorsal carpal osteochondral injury is a major cause of lameness in horses undergoing high intensity training. This project aimed to determine the subchondral bone thickness, formation, resorption and hardness at sites with high and low incidence of pathology in 2 year-old horses undergoing 19 weeks high intensity treadmill training or low intensity exercise, and to compare these factors between exercise groups. Dorsal and palmar test sites were ide...
van Biervliet J, Scrivani PV, Divers TJ, Erb HN, de Lahunta A, Nixon A.Different criteria have been described based on height reduction of the total myelographic contrast column and components of it as tests for compression of the spinal cord due to cervical stenotic myelopathy (CSM). Fifty percent height reduction of the dorsal myelographic column (DMC), <2 mm empiric height of the DMC and a 40% reduction of the ratio of stenosis calculated based on the height reduction of the entire dural diameter (DD) have been described as decision criteria for considering the test result positive. The reasons for selecting these decision criteria or their accuracies have ...
Nollet H, Van Ham L, Deprez P, Vanderstraeten G.Transcranial magnetic stimulation is rapidly developing as a powerful, non-invasive tool for studying the descending motor tracts in humans. The applications of the test in animals are for the moment restricted to small animals. However, this non-invasive, sensitive and painless technique appears promising as a test of motor tract function in horses where the neurological examination is mainly restricted to clinical evaluation and some ancillary tests, such as radiography, cerebrospinal fluid analysis and electromyography. In this review, we want to discuss the history, basic principles, techn...
Meisfjord Jørgensen GH, Mejdell CM, Bøe KE.Horse owners may lack knowledge about natural thermoregulation mechanisms in horses. Horses are managed intensively; usually stabled at night and turned out during the day. Some are clipped and many wear a blanket, practices which reduce the horse's ability to regulate heat dissipation. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between hair coat characteristics, body condition and infrared surface temperatures from different body parts of horses. Under standard conditions, the body surface temperature of 21 adult horses were investigated using infrared thermography. From severa...
Hennemann S, de Abreu MR.Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis is the most frequent cause of low back pain and/or sciatica in the elderly patient. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and testing are reviewed in a wide current bibliographic investigation. The importance of the relationship between clinical presentation and imaging study, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is emphasized. Prior to treatment indication, it is necessary to identify the precise location of pain, as well as the differential diagnosis between neurological and vascular lameness. Conservative treatment combining medic...
Girodroux M, Dyson S, Murray R.Back pain is well recognised as a cause of poor performance in horses, but the role of lesions of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations (facet joints) has not been well documented. Objective: To describe the clinical features, radiographic appearance and location of facet joint lesions and determine if there was any breed, gender, age, bodyweight or work discipline predilection. Methods: Data from 77 horses examined at the Animal Health Trust January 1997-September 2007 with evidence of thoracolumbar pain and radiographic changes of the facet joints were reviewed. The presenc...
Olstad K, Cnudde V, Masschaele B, Thomassen R, Dolvik NI.Osteochondrosis (OC) is an important developmental orthopedic disease of human and equine patients. The disease is defined as a focal disturbance in enchondral ossification. In horses, the disturbance can occur secondary to failure of the blood supply to growth cartilage. Diagnosis of the early, subclinical stages that can clarify the etiology is currently confined to cross-sectional histological examination. The potential for micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) with angiography to detect early lesions of OC has not yet been investigated. Methods: Nine Standardbred foals bred from parents wit...
Ilginis T, Clarke J, Patel PJ.The last two decades have seen a revolution in ophthalmic imaging. In this review we present an overview of the breadth of ophthalmic imaging modalities in use today and describe how the role of ophthalmic imaging has changed from documenting abnormalities visible on clinical examination to the detection of clinically silent abnormalities which can lead to an earlier and more precise diagnosis. Methods: This review is based on published literature in the fields of ophthalmic imaging and with focus on most commonly used imaging modalities. Results: New imaging techniques enable non-invasive eva...
Maninchedda U, Lepage OM, Gangl M, Hilairet S, Remandet B, Meot F, Penarier G, Segard E, Cortez P, Jorgensen C, Steinberg R.The aim of this work was to develop an equine metacarpophalangeal joint model that induces osteoarthritis that is not primarily mediated by instability or inflammation. The study involved six Standardbred horses. Standardized cartilage surface damage or "grooves" were created arthroscopically on the distal dorsal aspect of the lateral and medial metacarpal condyles of a randomly chosen limb. The contralateral limb was sham operated. After 2 weeks of stall rest, horses were trotted 30 minutes every other day for 8 weeks, then evaluated for lameness and radiographed. Synovial fluid was analyzed ...
Hurtig MB, Fretz PB, Doige CE, Schnurr DL.The mechanisms and completeness of equine articular cartilage repair were studied in ten horses over a nine month period. Large (15 mm square) and small (5 mm square) full-thickness lesions were made in weight bearing and nonweight bearing areas of the radiocarpal, middle carpal and femoropatellar joints. The horses were euthanized in groups of two 1, 2.5, 4, 5 and 9 months later. Gross pathology, microradiography, and histopathology were used to evaluate qualitative aspects of articular repair. Computer assisted microdensitometry of safranin-O stained cartilage sections was used to quantitate...
