Assessment of scintigraphic and thermographic changes after focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy on the origin of the suspensory ligament and the fourth metatarsal bone in horses without lameness.

The research investigates the effects of a non-invasive treatment called focused extra-corporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on the bone and bone-tendon junction of horses. Technologies like nuclear scintigraphy and thermography were used to monitor changes in treated regions. After two treatments using focused ESWT, the study found no significant physiological effect, suggesting that ESWT, at its current settings, does not cause damage to either the bone or bone-tendon junction in horses.

Procedure and Method

• The study was conducted on six warmblood horses, without any signs of lameness. The horses were treated at two different time periods (day 0 and day 16) using an ESWT device.
• The area selected for treatment included the origin of the suspensory ligament at the metacarpus (OSL-MC) and the fourth metatarsal bone. Each treatment involved applying 2,000 shocks at an energy flux density of 0.15 mJ/mm2.
• Both a forelimb and hind limb were treated on each horse, and the limbs on the opposite side were used as control subjects for comparison.

Monitoring and Measurement

• Nuclear scintigraphy, a form of diagnostic imaging, was performed on four different days (-1, 3, 16, 19), including before the second ESWT treatment.
• Thermography measurements were taken on a range of days, including both before and after the ESWT treatments, to monitor potential thermal changes in the treated area.
• The objective was to observe and document any changes in the treated area that resulted from ESWT.

Findings

• Based on the nuclear scintigraphy, notable variations in the radiopharmaceutical activity at the OSL-MC were observed in both treatment and control limbs.
• However, no significant differences were found between the treated and control limbs in terms of mean temperature or radiopharmaceutical activity when evaluated by thermography and nuclear scintigraphy.

Conclusion

• After two rounds of ESWT treatment, no physiological impact was found on the bones or bone-tendon junction handled. Hence, the ESWT at its existing settings does not appear to cause harm to these structures in horses.
• These results offer valuable insights into the effects of ESWT treatment on equine physiology, informing veterinary care and treatment strategies for horses.