Differences in the morphology of distal border synovial invaginations of the distal sesamoid bone in the horse as evaluated by computed tomography compared with radiography.
Abstract: Distal border synovial invaginations of the distal sesamoid bone are radiographically assessed during the selection process of horses admitted as breeding stallions or in purchase examinations. Nowadays, many moderately or some deeply penetrating proximally enlarged synovial invaginations are considered as moderate or severe radiographic findings. Objective: To measure the difference between and agreement of the morphology of distal border synovial invaginations on radiography vs. computed tomography (CT). It was hypothesised that the morphology of distal border synovial invaginations would be better evaluable on CT compared with radiography. Methods: Computed tomography scans and 3 dorsoproximal-palmarodistal oblique (DPr-PaDiO) radiographs were obtained on 50 cadaver forefeet from 25 Warmblood horses. Computed tomography was assumed to be the gold standard. The number, shape and depth of penetration of distal border synovial invaginations into the distal sesamoid bone were evaluated with both methods, and the comparison of their measurements was statistically described. Results: A statistically significant mean difference for number of distal synovial invaginations between CT and all 3 DPr-PaDiO projections was found and was approximately equal to 2, meaning that CT permits visualisation of an average of 2 more invaginations than radiography. In none of the cases did radiography have a higher number observed than CT. A large variation in the difference of measurements for depth of penetration against their mean difference between CT and the 3 radiographic projections was seen. Radiography underestimated the depth of invaginations, and more so when these were deeper. There was no statistically significant mean difference found between the techniques for depth. A moderate to good agreement between measurements on CT and the three DPr-PaDiO projections for shape was seen, in which the D55°Pr-PaDiO projection showed the best agreement. A high specificity (90-99%) and low sensitivity (65%) for all projections for shape were found. Conclusions: Radiography differs considerably from CT concerning the morphology of distal navicular border synovial invaginations. For the evaluation of the number, depth and shape of distal synovial invaginations in the distal sesamoid bone, radiography shows only partially the morphology seen on CT.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2012-02-15 PubMed ID: 22332711DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00547.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates how computed tomography (CT) scans compared to radiography (traditional x-rays) can show more details concerning the morphology of distal border synovial invaginations in horse’s distal sesamoid bone. The hypothesis was that CT scans would provide a more detailed understanding of these horse bone invaginations than radiography.
Objective and Hypothesis
- The study sets out to measure the difference in results between the use of traditional radiography and computed tomography (CT) for evaluating the morphology of distal border synovial invaginations in horses.
- The hypothesis of the study was that the morphology of distal border synovial invaginations would be more precisely evaluated using CT scan technology compared to traditional radiography.
Methods
- The researchers used both CT scans and 3 dorsoproximal-palmarodistal oblique radiographs on 50 cadaver forefeet from 25 Warmblood horses for their study.
- This study considered CT scans to be the gold standard for this type of comparison. Thus, the researchers assessed the number, shape, and depth of penetration of distal border synovial invaginations into the distal sesamoid bone using both methods. They then statistically described the resulting comparison of measurements.
Results
- The study found a statistically significant mean difference in the number of distal synovial invaginations observed between the CT scans and the three radiographic projections. The difference equated to CT scans being able to visualize an average of two more invaginations than radiography.
- There was a significant variance in measurements for the depth penetration between the CT scans and the radiographic projections. Radiography seemed to underestimate the depth of invaginations, particularly for deeper ones. However, there was no significant mean difference found between the techniques for depth.
- There was a moderate to good level of agreement on the measurements for shape between the CT data and the three radiographic readings. A high specificity (90-99%) and low sensitivity (65%) for all projections for shape were recorded.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that radiography yielded considerably different results from the CT scans concerning the morphology of distal navicular border synovial invaginations.
- For the evaluation of the number, depth, and shape of distal synovial invaginations in the distal sesamoid bone, radiography only partially reveals the morphology seen on CT.
Cite This Article
APA
Claerhoudt S, Bergman HJ, Van Der Veen H, Duchateau L, Raes EV, Saunders JH.
(2012).
Differences in the morphology of distal border synovial invaginations of the distal sesamoid bone in the horse as evaluated by computed tomography compared with radiography.
Equine Vet J, 44(6), 679-683.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00547.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Foot / anatomy & histology
- Forelimb
- Horses
- Radiography / veterinary
- Sesamoid Bones / anatomy & histology
- Synovial Membrane / anatomy & histology
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- McParland TJ, Horne CR, Robertson JB, Schnabel LV, Nelson NC. Alterations to the synovial invaginations of the navicular bone are associated with pathology of both the navicular apparatus and distal interphalangeal joint when evaluated using high field MRI. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2023 Jan;64(1):9-17.
- Yitbarek D, Dagnaw GG. Application of Advanced Imaging Modalities in Veterinary Medicine: A Review. Vet Med (Auckl) 2022;13:117-130.
- Peat FJ, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Berk JT, Keenan DP. Concurrent radiological and ultrasonographical findings in the forelimb proximal sesamoid bones and adjacent suspensory ligament branches in yearling and 2-year-old Thoroughbred sales horses. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):654-665.
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