Comparison of a body-mounted inertial sensor system-based method with subjective evaluation for detection of lameness in horses.
Abstract: To compare data obtained with an inertial sensor system with results of subjective lameness examinations performed by 3 experienced equine veterinarians for evaluation of lameness in horses. Methods: 106 horses. Methods: Horses were evaluated for lameness with a body-mounted inertial sensor system during trotting in a straight line and via subjective evaluation by 3 experienced equine practitioners who performed complete lameness examinations including lunging in a circle and limb flexion tests. Agreement among evaluators regarding results of subjective evaluations and correlations and agreements between various inertial sensor measures and results of subjective lameness evaluations were determined via calculation of Fleiss' κ statistic, regression analysis, and calculation of 95% prediction intervals. Results: Evaluators agreed on classification of horses into 3 mutually exclusive lameness categories (right limb lameness severity greater than left limb lameness severity, left limb lameness severity greater than right limb lameness severity, or equal right and left limb lameness severity) for 58.8% (κ = 0.37) and 54.7% (κ = 0.31) of horses for forelimb and hind limb lameness, respectively. All inertial sensor measures for forelimb and hind limb lameness were positively and significantly correlated with results of subjective evaluations. Agreement between inertial sensors measures and results of subjective evaluations was fair to moderate for forelimb lameness and slight to fair for hind limb lameness. Conclusions: Results of lameness evaluation of horses with an inertial sensor system and via subjective lameness examinations were significantly correlated but did not have strong agreement. Inertial sensor-based evaluation may augment but not replace subjective lameness examination of horses.
Publication Date: 2012-12-29 PubMed ID: 23270341DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.74.1.17Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Correlation Analysis
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- In Vivo
- Lameness
- Observational Study
- Regression Analysis
- Trotting Horses
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research assesses and compares the effectiveness of a body-mounted inertial sensor system with traditional veterinary inspections for identifying lameness in horses. The results show a reasonable correlation between them, which suggests their combined use would be beneficial, although the sensor system cannot replace veterinary examinations entirely.
Study Methods
- The researchers studied a total of 106 horses. Two methods were experimented for evaluating lameness: a body-mounted inertial sensor system and subjective evaluation by three experienced equine veterinarians.
- The horses were evaluated while they were trotting in a straight line for inertia sensor system and complete lameness assessment including circle lunging and limb flexion tests for subjective evaluations.
- Various statistical calculations were used to measure the correlation and agreement between the evaluation methods such as Fleiss’ κ statistic, regression analysis, and calculation of 95% prediction intervals.
Key Findings
- In subjective evaluations, agreement on horse lameness classifications was found in 58.8% of cases for forelimb lameness, and 54.7% of cases for hind limb lameness.
- Inertial sensor measures for both forelimb and hind limb lameness positively and significantly correlated with results from the subjective evaluations. However, the level of agreement between the methods was rated as fair to moderate for forelimb lameness, and slight to fair for hind limb lameness.
Conclusions
- The results from both methods—lameness evaluation of horses with a body-mounted inertial sensor system and through subjective veterinary examinations—showed significant correlation, yet they did not have strong agreement. This implies that while both methods can indicate lameness, they may be recognizing different aspects or elements of the condition.
- While the inertial sensor-based evaluation demonstrated value in identifying lameness, it cannot fully replace the subjective lameness examinations by veterinarians, suggesting the sensor system can be used as an additional tool to augment objective lameness detection.
Cite This Article
APA
Keegan KG, Wilson DA, Kramer J, Reed SK, Yonezawa Y, Maki H, Pai PF, Lopes MA.
(2012).
Comparison of a body-mounted inertial sensor system-based method with subjective evaluation for detection of lameness in horses.
Am J Vet Res, 74(1), 17-24.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.74.1.17 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. keegank@missouri.edu
MeSH Terms
- Accelerometry / methods
- Accelerometry / veterinary
- Animals
- Female
- Forelimb / physiopathology
- Gait
- Hindlimb / physiopathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
- Male
- Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation
- Monitoring, Ambulatory / methods
- Monitoring, Ambulatory / veterinary
- Motor Activity
- Reproducibility of Results
- Wireless Technology / instrumentation
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