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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(5); doi: 10.3390/ani14050698

Advances in the Clinical Diagnostics to Equine Back Pain: A Review of Imaging and Functional Modalities.

Abstract: Back pain is common in ridden horses. Back diseases in horses include Impinging Dorsal Spinous Processes, Ventral Spondylosis, Osteoarthritis of Articular Process, Intervertebral Discs Disease, Vertebral Fractures, Conformational Abnormalities, Desmopathy of the Supraspinous Ligament, Desmopathy of the Intraspinous Ligament, and Longissimus Muscle Strain. Back pain may also develop as a result of lameness (particularly hindlimb lameness). A poorly fitting saddle and an unbalanced rider are also considered important factors influencing the development of back pain in horses. The conventional diagnosis of equine back pain includes a clinical examination and diagnostic imaging examination using ultrasound, radiography, and thermography. Advanced diagnostic modalities of equine back pain involve the objectification of standard procedures through the use of algometers, a lameness locator, biometric mats, and the geometric morphometrics method. In addition to modern diagnostic methods, such as computed tomography and scintigraphy, advances in the diagnosis of equine back pain include the use of electromyography and functional electrical stimulation. The aim of this review article is to familiarize clinicians with the usefulness and capabilities of conventional diagnostic protocols and advanced diagnostic modalities. Although orthopedic examination and traditional diagnostic methods will remain the foundation of the diagnosis of back diseases, modern methods meet the growing expectations towards high-performance horses and allow for deeper diagnostics and objective monitoring of rehabilitation and training progress.
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Publication Date: 2024-02-23 PubMed ID: 38473083PubMed Central: PMC10930837DOI: 10.3390/ani14050698Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article reviews recent advancements in the clinical diagnostics of equine back pain. This includes discussion on various diseases that can cause back pain, conventional diagnostic measures, and novel imaging modalities.

Common Back Diseases in Horses

The paper discusses common back diseases in horses. These include:

  • Impinging Dorsal Spinous Processes – a disorder where the spinal bones touch or grind against each other, causing pain.
  • Ventral Spondylosis – a form of spinal degeneration.
  • Osteoarthritis of Articular Process – a type of arthritis that affects the joints of the spine.
  • Intervertebral Discs Disease – disorder of the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column.
  • Vertebral Fractures – break in a bone of the spinal column.
  • Conformational Abnormalities – irregularities in the physical formation of the body.
  • Desmopathy of the Supraspinous Ligament – disease of the main ligament of the horse’s back.
  • Desmopathy of the Intraspinous Ligament – disorder of the ligaments between the spinous processes.
  • Longissimus Muscle Strain – strain in the longest muscle in horse’s body which runs alongside the spine.

Conventional Diagnosis

The conventional diagnosis of equine back pain generally involves a clinical examination and diagnostic imaging examinations. Some commonly used diagnostics imaging methods include:

  • Ultrasound – provides a real-time moving picture of the horse’s inner body using sound waves.
  • Radiography – uses X-rays to create images of the horse’s body structure including bones and joints.
  • Thermography – uses infrared imaging to indicate increased heat (sign of inflammation).

Advanced Diagnostic Modalities

The review presents some advanced diagnostic modalities. These technologies aim to objectify standard procedures and provide more accurate and vigorous diagnostics. These include:

  • Algometers – an instrument used to measure sensitivity to pain.
  • Lameness locator – a device used to detect subtle changes in gait consistent with lameness that can be linked to back pain.
  • Biometric Mats – a tool to evaluate horse’s response to pressure under their feet, signifying possible discomfort or abnormalities.
  • Geometric Morphometrics Method – a technique used to capture, manipulate, and visualize the shape of biological forms and its variation.

Modern Diagnostic Methods

In addition to the conventional and advanced modalities, the paper introduces the use of modern diagnostic methods. These include:

  • Computed Tomography (CT) – a type of imaging that uses a series of X-ray images taken from different angles to create cross-sectional images of the body.
  • Scintigraphy – a diagnostic test where a small amount of radioactive material is injected into the body to obtain detailed pictures.
  • Electromyography (EMG) – a diagnostic procedure to assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them (motor neurons).
  • Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) – a therapeutic technique that uses electrical currents to activate nerves innervating extremities affected by paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury, head injury, stroke and other neurological disorders.

Overall, the paper emphasizes that while traditional orthopedic examination and diagnostics will continue to be the foundation for diagnosis, the application of modern and advanced diagnostic methods can offer in-depth analysis and meet the growing diagnostic needs of high-performance horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Domańska-Kruppa N, Wierzbicka M, Stefanik E. (2024). Advances in the Clinical Diagnostics to Equine Back Pain: A Review of Imaging and Functional Modalities. Animals (Basel), 14(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050698

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 5

Researcher Affiliations

Domańska-Kruppa, Natalia
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.
Wierzbicka, Małgorzata
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.
Stefanik, Elżbieta
  • Department of Large Animal Diseases and Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

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