Accuracy of low-field magnetic resonance imaging versus radiography for guiding injection of equine distal interphalangeal joint collateral ligaments.

The article’s research focuses on comparing the accuracy of low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiography for injecting a compromised ligament in horses. The study concludes that MRI-guided injections were more successful than those guided by radiography.

Objective of the Research

• The study’s primary goal was to assess the efficacy of two medical imaging techniques: low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiography, in guiding the injection of the collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses.
• This assessment comes in response to limited reports describing effective methods for injecting this ligament, a common cause of lameness in horses, which varies considerably in terms of prognosis for recovery.

Methodology

• The study used equine cadaver digit pairs randomly assigned to injection of the ligament by either MRI or radiography.
• An observer, uninformed about the injection technique used, was tasked to determine the success of the injection using postinjection MRI or by examining gross sections from the ligament’s proximal, middle, and distal portions.
• The McNemar’s test was used to determine any statistically significant difference between the injection techniques, number of injection attempts, and targeting either the medial or lateral collateral ligament.

Results

• Compared to radiographic-guided injections, MRI-guided injections were more often successful, based both on postinjection MRI readings and gross section examinations.
• Regardless of the ligament level (proximal, middle, distal), MRI-guided injections resulted in more successful instances than those guided by radiography.
• The difference in success rate was statistically significant at the proximal part of the ligament when analysing postinjection MRI data and at the middle portion when looking at gross sections.

Conclusion and Implications

• Findings from this study support further research into using standing, low-field MRI as a technique for delivering intralesional regenerative therapy in live horses exhibiting desmopathy of these collateral ligaments.