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

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.