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BMC veterinary research2020; 16(1); 370; doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02571-5

Effect of heel elevation on breakover phase in horses with laminitis.

Abstract: In a laminitic horse, the maximal loading of the toe region occurs during the breakover phase. To date, no kinetic data demonstrates the effect of supportive orthopaedic therapy in horses with laminitis on breakover phase. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of heel elevation on the breakover phase. Eight horses with acute laminitis treated medically as well as with application of a hoof cast with heel wedge (HCHW) were included in this study. Immediately following cessation of clinical signs of acute laminitis, two measurements using the Hoof™ System were taken: the first with HCHW and the second immediately following removal of the HCHW, i.e. in barefoot condition (BFC). The hoof print was divided into three regions: toe, middle hoof, and heel. Kinetic parameters included vertical force (VF), stance duration, contact area (CA) for all hoof regions during stance phase, duration of breakover, VF in the toe region at onset of breakover and location of centre of force. Results: The VF and CA were higher in the heel region (63 and 61%, respectively) and decreased significantly after removal of the HCHW (43 and 28% after removal, respectively). The breakover phase in horses with HCHW lasted 2% of stance phase and was significantly shorter than that in BFC, which lasted 6% of stance phase. The VF at onset of breakover for the toe region in horses with HCHW was significantly lower than that in BFC. The centre of the force was located at the heel region in all horses with the HCHW, and at the middle the hoof region in BFC. Conclusions: Heel elevation in horses with laminitis as examined on a concrete surface significantly shortens breakover phase and decreases the vertical force in the toe region during breakover. HCHW provides adequate support to the palmar hoof structures by increasing the contact area in the heel region and incorporating the palmar part of frog and sole into weight bearing, thus decreasing the stress on the lamellae. Hoof cast with heel elevation could be a beneficial orthopaedic supportive therapy for horses suffering from acute laminitis.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-01 PubMed ID: 33004040PubMed Central: PMC7528610DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02571-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 explores the impact of heel elevation on the breakover phase of laminitic horses, finding that it reduces the vertical force in the toe region and shortens the breakover phase, potentially benefiting as a supportive orthopedic treatment.

Objective

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of heel elevation on the breakover phase in horses suffering from an acute case of laminitis. The research was carried out on eight horses treated with both medical interventions and the application of a hoof cast with heel wedge (HCHW).

Methodology

  • Horses were treated during and immediately after showing clinical signs of acute laminitis.
  • Measurements, including Vertical Force (VF), stance duration, contact area (CA) for all hoof regions during stance phase, duration of breakover, VF in the toe region at the onset of breakover, and location of the center of force, were taken using the Hoof™ System. These measurements were taken twice: firstly, when the HCHW was applied and secondly immediately after it had been removed.
  • The hoof print was also divided into three regions: toe, middle hoof, and heel for analysis.

Results

  • There was significant decrease in VF and CA in the heel region (63% and 61% respectively) after removal of the HCHW (43% and 28% respectively).
  • The breakover phase was found to be significantly shorter in horses with the HCHW applied, compared to those without it. Specifically, it lasted only 2% of the stance phase with HCHW, whereas in barefoot condition (BFC), it lasted 6% of the stance phase.
  • The VF at the onset of breakover for the toe region was significantly lower in horses with the HCHW than in BFC.
  • The center of the force was located in the heel region in all horses with the HCHW, versus in the middle hoof region in BFC.

Conclusions

  • A significant finding was that heel elevation significantly shortens the breakover phase and decreases the vertical force in the toe region during the breakover.
  • The HCHW helped provide adequate support to the palmar hoof structures by increasing the contact area in the heel region and easing the weight bearing onto the palmar part of the frog and sole, thus reducing pressure on the lamellae.
  • The study concluded that the use of a hoof cast with elevation could be a valuable option in orthopedic supportive therapy for horses suffering from acute laminitis.

Cite This Article

APA
Al Naem M, Litzke LF, Geburek F, Failing K, Hoffmann J, Röcken M. (2020). Effect of heel elevation on breakover phase in horses with laminitis. BMC Vet Res, 16(1), 370. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-02571-5

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 1
Pages: 370
PII: 370

Researcher Affiliations

Al Naem, Mohamad
  • Clinic for Horses (Surgery, Orthopaedics), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Frankfurter str. 108, 35392, Giessen, Germany. Mohamad.Al-Naem@vetmed.uni-giessen.de.
Litzke, Lutz-Ferdinand
  • Clinic for Horses (Surgery, Orthopaedics), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Frankfurter str. 108, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Geburek, Florian
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Bünteweg 9, 30559, Hannover, Germany.
Failing, Klaus
  • Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Frankfurter Str. 95, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Hoffmann, Johanna
  • Clinic for Horses (Surgery, Orthopaedics), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Frankfurter str. 108, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
Röcken, Michael
  • Clinic for Horses (Surgery, Orthopaedics), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Giessen, Frankfurter str. 108, 35392, Giessen, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Casts, Surgical / veterinary
  • Foot Diseases / therapy
  • Foot Diseases / veterinary
  • Forelimb
  • Hoof and Claw / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / therapy
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Weight-Bearing

Conflict of Interest Statement

None.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Hoffmann JR, Geburek F, Hagen J, Büttner K, Cruz AM, Röcken M. Bilateral Change in Vertical Hoof Force Distribution in Horses with Unilateral Forelimb Lameness before and after Successful Diagnostic Anaesthesia. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 19;12(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12182485pubmed: 36139345google scholar: lookup
  2. Aoun R, Takawira C, Lopez MJ. Horseshoe effects on equine gait-A systematic scoping review. Vet Surg 2025 Jan;54(1):31-51.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.14162pubmed: 39278729google scholar: lookup
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