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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Radiol Ultrasound / Clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in horses with subc...
Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2011; 52(6); 596-604; doi: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2011.01852.x

Clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in horses with subchondral bone trauma of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx.

Abstract: Eight sports horses with unilateral (4) or bilateral (3) forelimb or unilateral hindlimb (1) lameness had subtle radiologic abnormalities of the subchondral bone of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx associated with moderate or intense increased radiopharmaceutical uptake. High-field or low-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging confirmed the presence of a fissure fracture or subchondral and trabecular bone trauma. Seven of eight lesions were located approximately midway between the dorsal and palmar cortices of the proximal phalanx; the eighth was sited more dorsally. Two horses underwent follow-up MR imaging and abnormal signal intensity persisted, with little change.
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Publication Date: 2011-08-13 PubMed ID: 21831247DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2011.01852.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research investigated clinical and diagnostic imaging results in sports horses that showed signs of bone injury in a specific part of their anatomy, specifically the subchondral bone of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx.

Objective and Scope of the Research

  • The study aimed to highlight the unusual radiologic characteristics found in eight sports horses affected by bone trauma, identified by intense uptake of radiopharmaceuticals.
  • The presentation of the trauma was either unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral (two-sided) and was mainly found in the forelimbs, but also depicted in one case in a hindlimb.
  • The focus was on pathologies of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx – a specific area in the horse’s foot.

Research Methodology and Findings

  • The clinicians used high-field or low-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to validate the presence of fissure fractures or damage to the subchondral and trabecular bone beneath the joint cartilage.
  • They discovered that the majority (seven out of eight) of the lesions were located about halfway between the dorsal (rear) and palmar (front) cortices of the proximal phalanx.
  • One of the lesions was placed more towards the dorsal side.

Follow-Up and Result Interpretations

  • Follow-up MR imaging was performed on two of the horses. In both cases, the abnormal signal intensity identified previously persisted, indicating minimal healing or change in the condition.
  • This suggests that the injuries were chronic in nature and did not heal as would be expected, potentially due to constant workload or age-related factors among the sports horses.
  • These findings may contribute importantly to the understanding and eventual improvement of treatment modalities for bone injuries in sports horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Dyson S, Nagy A, Murray R. (2011). Clinical and diagnostic imaging findings in horses with subchondral bone trauma of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 52(6), 596-604. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2011.01852.x

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1058-8183
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 6
Pages: 596-604

Researcher Affiliations

Dyson, Sue
  • Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK. sue.dyson@aht.org.uk
Nagy, Annamaria
    Murray, Rachel

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Athletic Injuries / diagnosis
      • Athletic Injuries / diagnostic imaging
      • Athletic Injuries / surgery
      • Athletic Injuries / veterinary
      • Bone and Bones / diagnostic imaging
      • Bone and Bones / injuries
      • Forelimb
      • Hindlimb
      • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
      • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
      • Horse Diseases / etiology
      • Horse Diseases / surgery
      • Horses
      • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
      • Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
      • Lameness, Animal / etiology
      • Lameness, Animal / surgery
      • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
      • Radionuclide Imaging

      Citations

      This article has been cited 15 times.
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      3. Lipreri G, Bladon BM, Giorio ME, Singer ER. Conservative versus surgical treatment of 21 sports horses with osseous trauma in the proximal phalangeal sagittal groove diagnosed by low-field MRI. Vet Surg 2018 Oct;47(7):908-915.
        doi: 10.1111/vsu.12936pubmed: 30216476google scholar: lookup
      4. Smith AD, Morton AJ, Winter MD, Colahan PT, Ghivizzani S, Brown MP, Hernandez JA, Nickerson DM. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCORING OF AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF POST-TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE EQUINE CARPUS. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2016 Sep;57(5):502-14.
        doi: 10.1111/vru.12369pubmed: 27198611google scholar: lookup
      5. Noble P, Singer ER, Jeffery NS. Does subchondral bone of the equine proximal phalanx adapt to race training?. J Anat 2016 Jul;229(1):104-13.
        doi: 10.1111/joa.12478pubmed: 27075139google scholar: lookup
      6. De Zani D, Rabbogliatti V, Rabba S, Auletta L, Longo M, Zani DD. Subchondral and Osteochondral Unit Bone Damage in the Fetlock Region of Sport Horses Using Low-Field MRI: Case Series. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 2;15(23).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15233468pubmed: 41375526google scholar: lookup
      7. Boado A, Pollard D, Lopez-Sanroman FJ, Dyson S. Orthopaedic Injuries in 272 Dressage Horses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 14;15(20).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15202972pubmed: 41153899google scholar: lookup
      8. Boado A, Pollard D, Dyson S. A Retrospective Study of the Evolution of Orthopaedic Injuries in 70 Dressage Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 12;15(12).
        doi: 10.3390/ani15121740pubmed: 40564292google scholar: lookup
      9. Nagy A, Dyson SJ. Combined standing low-field magnetic resonance imaging and fan-beam computed tomographic diagnosis of fetlock region pain in 27 sports horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1313-1327.
        doi: 10.1111/evj.14504pubmed: 40123444google scholar: lookup
      10. Lin ST, Foote AK, Bolas NM, Sargan DR, Murray RC. Histological and Histopathological Features of the Third Metacarpal/Tarsal Parasagittal Groove and Proximal Phalanx Sagittal Groove in Thoroughbred Horses with Racing History. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 30;14(13).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14131942pubmed: 38998057google scholar: lookup
      11. Schiavo S, Beccati F, Pokora R, Lin ST, Milmine RC, Bak L, Peter VG, Murray RC. Lesion Distribution in the Metacarpophalangeal and Metatarsophalangeal Region of 341 Horses Using Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 25;14(13).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14131866pubmed: 38997978google scholar: lookup
      12. van Veggel ECS, Vanderperren K, Selberg KT, Bergman HJ, Hoogelander B. The Evolution of Lesions on Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Proximal Metacarpal Region in Non-Racing Sport Horses That Returned to Work (2015-2023). Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 8;14(12).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14121731pubmed: 38929351google scholar: lookup
      13. Nagy A, Dyson S. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomographic and Radiographic Findings in the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of 31 Warmblood Showjumpers in Full Work and Competing Regularly. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 9;14(10).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14101417pubmed: 38791635google scholar: lookup
      14. Faulkner JE, Joostens Z, Broeckx BJG, Hauspie S, Mariën T, Vanderperren K. Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Sagittal Groove Disease of the Equine Proximal Phalanx Using a Classification System in 29 Non-Racing Sports Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 21;14(1).
        doi: 10.3390/ani14010034pubmed: 38200766google scholar: lookup
      15. Lin ST, Foote AK, Bolas NM, Peter VG, Pokora R, Patrick H, Sargan DR, Murray RC. Three-Dimensional Imaging and Histopathological Features of Third Metacarpal/Tarsal Parasagittal Groove and Proximal Phalanx Sagittal Groove Fissures in Thoroughbred Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 14;13(18).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13182912pubmed: 37760312google scholar: lookup
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