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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Computed tomographic measurements in 110 front hooves of non...
Equine veterinary journal2025; 57(5); 1328-1340; doi: 10.1111/evj.14509

Computed tomographic measurements in 110 front hooves of non-lame Thoroughbred racehorses and Warmblood showjumpers.

Abstract: There are no published reference ranges on computed tomographic (CT) hoof wall and sole measurements. Objective: To establish reference ranges for CT measurements of the hoof wall and sole in non-lame horses, and to investigate associations between measurements and signalment, laterality, and medial or lateral sides. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Methods: Soft tissue reconstructions of fan-beam CT studies of 110 front feet of 56 non-lame horses (30 Thoroughbred racehorses, 26 Warmblood showjumpers), performed in non- to semi-weightbearing positions, were analysed. Hoof wall thickness and its layers were measured at standardised sites. The dorsal hoof wall to palmar length of the distal phalanx (DHWDP) ratio was calculated. Paired sample t-tests assessed differences in medial and lateral measurements. Multivariable mixed-effects linear regression models evaluated associations between the measurements and explanatory variables. Results: Reference ranges were established; the mean total dorsal hoof wall thickness was 14.03 ± 1.37 mm in Thoroughbred racehorses and 15.79 ± 1.41 mm in Warmblood showjumpers. The mean DHWDP ratio was 0.24 ± 0.02 in both breeds. The sole was significantly thicker laterally than medially at the palmar measurement site, perpendicular to the ground (mean difference: 2.12 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57, 2.67) and to the surface of the sole (mean difference: 2.08 mm, 95% CI 1.50, 2.66) (p < 0.05). Only bodyweight:height ratio was significantly associated with proximal, middle, and distal dorsal hoof wall thickness across all layers (p < 0.05), except the middle dorsal combined corium and stratum internum measurement. Differences persisted between medial and lateral sides even after adjustment for signalment and laterality (p < 0.05), apart from the sole measurements at the middle measurement site. Conclusions: Results may not be applicable to other breeds. Conclusions: The established reference range of hoof wall and solar CT measurements in non-lame horses can aid accurate interpretation of CT studies of horses with foot pain.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-04-15 PubMed ID: 40235192PubMed Central: PMC12326948DOI: 10.1111/evj.14509Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The study creates a reference guide for Computed Tomography (CT) measurements of the hoof wall and sole in non-lame Thoroughbred racehorses and Warmblood showjumpers, with the aim to provide more accurate diagnosis for horses with foot pain.

Research Objective

  • The study aims to establish a reference range for hoof wall and sole measurements in non-lame horses, taken from CT scans.
  • It also explores any associations between measurements and other factors like signalment (a detailed description of the horse including breed, age, and body weight), laterality (the preference for use of a particular side of the body), and medial or lateral sides (inner or outer sides of the hoofwall).

Methods

  • The research is a retrospective cross-sectional study, meaning it analyses data collected in the past across different subsets of a population.
  • Data from CT scans of 110 front feet from 56 non-lame horses (30 Thoroughbred racehorses and 26 Warmblood showjumpers) were used.
  • Standardized sites were chosen for the measurements. The calculations included the thickness of the hoof wall and the dorsal hoof wall to palmar length of the distal phalanx (DHWDP) ratio, which is the ratio of the front to back length of the last bone of the hoof.

Results

  • Based on the data, reference ranges were established for the total dorsal hoof wall thickness and the DHWDP ratio between the two breeds.
  • The study found that the sole was thicker on the lateral side (towards the outside of the horse’s body) than on the medial side (towards the inside of the horse’s body) at the palmar measurement site.
  • Distinct differences persisted between medial and lateral sides even after adjusting for signalment and laterality, except for the sole measurements at the middle measurement site.
  • However, it was only the bodyweight:height ratio that significantly associated with the dorsal hoof wall thickness across all layers, except for the layer consisting of corium and stratum internum.

Conclusion

  • Despite delivering a successful CT reference range for the considered breeds, the study acknowledges that the findings might not be applicable to other horse breeds due to distinct physiological differences.
  • Nevertheless, the derived reference range assists in a more accurate interpretation of CT studies of horses, significantly aiding the diagnosis and treatment of foot pain in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Szabó L, Pollard D, Nagy A. (2025). Computed tomographic measurements in 110 front hooves of non-lame Thoroughbred racehorses and Warmblood showjumpers. Equine Vet J, 57(5), 1328-1340. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14509

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 5
Pages: 1328-1340

Researcher Affiliations

Szabó, Luca
  • Department and Clinic of Equine Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
Pollard, Danica
  • Independent Consultant, Wisbech, UK.
Nagy, Annamária
  • Department and Clinic of Equine Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Hoof and Claw / anatomy & histology
  • Hoof and Claw / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Male
  • Female
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Reference Values

Grant Funding

  • Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
  • FK_21 138825 / Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal
  • ÚNKP-23-5 / Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared no conflicting interests.

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