Abnormal Imaging Findings of the Femoral Third Trochanter in 20 Horses.
Abstract: Injuries involving the femoral third trochanter are an uncommon but important source of equine lameness; however, clinical localization can be challenging. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe ultrasonographic and scintigraphic findings in a group of horses with presumed third trochanter injury. Medical records of an equine referral hospital were searched from 2004-2014, and 20 horses met the inclusion criteria. Lesions consistent with third trochanter fracture were identified with ultrasound in 14/20 horses. Onset of lameness was acute (11), insidious (2), or unknown (1). All but one horse was lame at presentation, ranging from Grade 2-4/5. Ultrasound was the primary diagnostic modality in 5/14 horses with fragmentation, while scintigraphic findings of intense (3), moderate (5), and mild (1) increased radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU) prompted ultrasonographic examinations in 9/14 fractured horses. A nondisplaced fracture was suspected in an additional horse with intense IRU and negative ultrasound findings. In the remaining five horses, imaging findings included only mild IRU. Lameness was localized to other regions in these cases. Six of 12 fractured horses with available outcome data were returned to function after a prolonged rehabilitation of 8-18 months. Scintigraphic findings helped to direct focused ultrasound exams in the majority of fracture cases. Horses with evidence of third trochanter fracture had similar clinical characteristics to that reported for pelvic fractures and authors therefore recommend ultrasonographic examination of both regions, especially when scintigraphy is unavailable. Prognosis for return to function in horses of the current study was less favorable than previously reported.
© 2015 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
Publication Date: 2015-04-27 PubMed ID: 25918969DOI: 10.1111/vru.12262Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses the study on abnormal imaging finds of femoral third trochanter injuries in horses. The study finds that these injuries, though rare, cause lameness in horses and its detection can be challenging.
Objective and Method of Research
- The research is a retrospective study designed to understand and describe the ultrasonographic and scintigraphic findings in horses with supposed third trochanter injuries.
- For the research, the medical records of a horse referral hospital were reviewed for the period of 2004-2014. Overall, 20 horses that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were considered for the study.
Findings of the Study
- Through ultrasound, lesions in line with third trochanter fractures were identified in 14 out of the 20 horses. The onset of lameness in these horses was short-termed in 11 horses, insidious in two, and could not be determined in one horse.
- All horses, but one, showed lameness at presentation, which ranged between Grade 2-4/5.
- Out of the 14 horses with fragmentation, ultrasound was the primary diagnostic modality in 5 of these horses.
- In the other 9 of these 14 horses, radiopharmaceutical uptake (IRU) of different grades prompted the ultrasound exams.
- Only mild IRU was found in the rest of the six horses, where the lameness was found to be due to other regions.
Outcomes and Recommendations
- In 12 horses with fractures and available outcome data, six were able to return to function after an extended rehabilitation period of 8 to 18 months.
- The use of scintigraphy directed the focus of ultrasound exams in most of the fracture cases.
- It was observed that horses with third trochanter fractures had similar clinical features as those reported for pelvic fractures. Consequently, the authors recommended an ultrasonographic examination of both regions, especially if scintigraphy isn’t available.
- The prognosis for return to function in horses from this study was observed to be less favorable than previously reported.
Cite This Article
APA
Shields GE, Whitcomb MB, Vaughan B, Wisner ER.
(2015).
Abnormal Imaging Findings of the Femoral Third Trochanter in 20 Horses.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 56(5), 466-473.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12262 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616.
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616.
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616.
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Femoral Fractures / diagnosis
- Femoral Fractures / diagnostic imaging
- Femoral Fractures / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Male
- Radionuclide Imaging / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Ultrasonography / veterinary
Citations
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