Characterization of the origin and body of the normal equine rear suspensory ligament using ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histology.
Abstract: The suspensory ligament is difficult to image accurately, partly because it contains ligamentous fibers, as well as noncollagenous adipose and muscle tissue in the normal horse. Our hypothesis was that magnetic resonance (MR) imaging would be more accurate than ultrasonography in identifying the size of the suspensory ligament and the presence and size of noncollagenous tissues within the ligament. Eleven horses were used for ultrasonographic and MR imaging and histologic evaluation of the rear suspensory ligament. The origin and body of the normal suspensory ligament had a heterogenous appearance on MR images with two separate islands of mixed signal intensity evident throughout its otherwise hypointense cross-sectional area. Histologically, there were isolated islands of muscle, adipose, loose connective tissue and dense collagenous partitions, organized in two separate bundles that extended through the full length of the suspensory ligament origin and body to the level of its bifurcation. Comparison of MR images with corresponding histologic sections confirmed that islands of heterogenous signal intensity in normal suspensory ligaments correlated well with these bundles. Using ultrasonography, it was impossible to distinguish these islands from surrounding dense collagenous tissue consistently. MR imaging determined the cross-sectional area of the suspensory ligament more accurately than ultrasonography. Based upon these results, MR imaging is superior to ultrasonography for assessment of the suspensory ligament. The appearance associated with normal ligament anatomy needs to be understood before MR signal variation can be considered as indicative of disease in the suspensory ligament.
© 2012 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.
Publication Date: 2012-02-14 PubMed ID: 22332890DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2011.01922.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Anatomy
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Technique
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Histology
- Horses
- Imaging Techniques
- Ligaments
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Musculoskeletal System
- Physiology
- Suspensory Ligament
- Ultrasound
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
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 highlights the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a superior method to ultrasonography for studying the suspensory ligament in horses, as it accurately captures not only the ligament size but also the presence and size of non-collagenous tissues within it.
Research Purpose and Hypothesis
- The researchers aimed to explore ways of imaging the horse’s suspensory ligament, which is difficult due to its composition of ligamentous fibers and additional tissues like adipose and muscle.
- The hypothesis was that MRI would be more precise than ultrasonography in determining the size of the suspensory ligament and identifying the presence and size of non-collagenous tissues within the ligament.
Methods and Study Sample
- The study made use of eleven horses, and the researchers used ultrasonography, MRI, and histology to evaluate the rear suspensory ligament.
Findings and Observations
- The MRI images showed a heterogeneous appearance to the body and origin of the normal suspensory ligament.
- The ligament contained two islands of mixed signal intensity inside its predominantly hypointense cross-sectional area.
- The MRI accurately captured the presence of isolated sections of muscle, adipose, loose connective tissue, and dense collagenous partitions arranged in two separate bundles extending across the ligament’s length to the bifurcation point.
- When compared with histologic sections, MRI images were found to be good correlations to the heterogeneous signal intensity islands in normal suspensory ligaments.
- However, using ultrasonography, these islands couldn’t be consistently distinguished from the surrounding dense collagenous tissue.
- Overall, the MRI offered a much accurate measurement of the suspensory ligament cross-sectional area than ultrasonography.
Conclusion
- Based on the results, MRI offers a more precise tool than ultrasonography for assessing the suspensory ligament in horses.
- It is crucial to understand normal ligament anatomy and its appearance on MRI before using signal variation on MR images as an indication of disease in the suspensory ligament.
Cite This Article
APA
Schramme M, Josson A, Linder K.
(2012).
Characterization of the origin and body of the normal equine rear suspensory ligament using ultrasonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and histology.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 53(3), 318-328.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2011.01922.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA. m.schramme@vetagro-sup.fr
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Hindlimb / anatomy & histology
- Hindlimb / diagnostic imaging
- Histological Techniques / veterinary
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Ligaments / anatomy & histology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
- Ultrasonography / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Scharf A, de Solis CN, Sampson SN, Glass K, Watts AE. Suspensory ligament size does not change after plantar fasciotomy and neurectomy of the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve by ultrasonographic assessment.. Vet Surg 2022 Feb;51(2):259-269.
- Maleas G, Mageed M. Effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate as Treatments for Chronic Hindlimb Proximal Suspensory Desmopathy.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:678453.
- Mizobe F, Nomura M, Kato T, Nambo Y, Yamada K. Signal changes in standing magnetic resonance imaging of osseous injury at the origin of the suspensory ligament in four Thoroughbred racehorses under tiludronic acid treatment.. J Equine Sci 2017;28(3):87-97.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
