Development of an Ultrasound Technique to Evaluate the Popliteal Complex in the Horse.
Abstract: The popliteal tendon and muscle are major stabilizers of the human and dog knee, more specifically the postero-lateral corner. Injury to this complex causes posterior knee pain, and it is generally associated with other injured structures such as the lateral collateral ligament, lateral meniscus, and/or the cranial cruciate ligament. The popliteal complex is poorly reported in the horse, and its specific function has not been determined. Nevertheless, it is likely that it is similar to that of other species, and that injury to it could have similar clinical repercussions. Lameness due to stifle pathology is a serious clinical entity in sport horses. One of the cardinal diagnostic tools in lameness exams is ultrasonography; however, a comprehensive technique to examine the popliteal complex (tendon and muscle) in the horse has not been reported. The objective of the study was to develop a systematic ultrasound technique of the equine popliteal complex that allows identification of the insertion and variations of the popliteal tendon (PopT), as well as examination of the popliteal muscle (PopM). Comparison between anatomical variants among horses was studied in order to identify possible significant differences. For this, 10 university teaching horses were used, hence 20 stifles were examined, several times. With the ultrasound technique presented here, the PopT and PopM are consistently examined. The developed technique allows reliable examination of the popliteal complex in the horse, and it could be included during standard ultrasound examination of equine stifle.
Publication Date: 2022-03-22 PubMed ID: 35405791PubMed Central: PMC8996960DOI: 10.3390/ani12070800Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article focuses on the development of an ultrasound technique for assessing the popliteal complex (a tendon and muscle structure) in horses. The study aimed to reliably identify and examine this complex in a systematic way to understand its variations and potential for injury.
Background
- The popliteal tendon and the associated muscle are known to stabilize the knee in humans and dogs, especially the postero-lateral corner.
- Damage to this complex leads to posterior knee pain and is often linked with injuries to other structures such as the lateral collateral ligament, lateral meniscus, and the cranial cruciate ligament.
- Despite the importance of this complex, its function in horses is not well-documented and not thoroughly understood.
- Stifle pathology causing lameness is a major issue in sport horses, and ultrasonography is an important diagnostic tool for examining this.
- However, an established ultrasound method for investigating the horse’s popliteal complex was hitherto unreported.
Objective and Methodology
- The study’s primary aim was to establish a systematic ultrasound process to identify and analyze the equine popliteal complex consistently.
- Specifically, the researchers wanted to detect the insertion and variations of the popliteal tendon and also examine the popliteal muscle.
- The researchers selected 10 university teaching horses, providing them with 20 stifles (knee joint in horses) to examine multiple times.
Findings and Conclusions
- Utilizing the proposed ultrasound technique, the researchers were able to consistently examine the popliteal tendon and muscle in horses.
- The differences among the anatomical variants of the horses were studied to identify potential significant differences.
- The developed ultrasound technique enables reliable examination of the popliteal complex in horses.
- Therefore, this technique could be incorporated as part of the standard ultrasound examination process for equine stifle diagnosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Møller-Jensen M, Blomquist MH, Mortensen CL, Olsson IKC, Cuevas-Ramos G.
(2022).
Development of an Ultrasound Technique to Evaluate the Popliteal Complex in the Horse.
Animals (Basel), 12(7), 800.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070800 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Large Animal Teaching Hospital, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Copenhagen, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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This article includes 17 references
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