Elastosonographic features of the metacarpophalangeal joint capsule in horses.
Abstract: Capsulitis leads to the release of inflammatory mediators in the joint, causing capsular fibrosis and osteoarthritis (OA). Strain elastosonography (SE) measures the elasticity of tissue by evaluating its strain in operator-dependent deformation. The aims of the study were to assess the feasibility, repeatability, and reproducibility of SE for imaging the distal attachment of the joint capsule (DJC) of metacarpophalangeal joints in sound horses (Group S) and in horses with metacarpophalangeal OA (Group P) and to evaluate differences in the elastosonographic patterns of these horses. After a whole lameness examination, fore fetlock DJCs were assigned to Group S and Group P and were thereafter examined by two operators using SE. Qualitative (i.e., colour grading score) and semi-quantitative (i.e., elasticity index (EI) and strain ratio (SR)) methods were used to evaluate the elastograms. The inter-rater reliability (IRR), intraclass correlation coefficient (intra-CC) and interclass correlation coefficient (inter-CC) were used to compare colour grading scores and the repeatability and reproducibility of EI and SR outcomes. The same parameters were compared between groups. P < 0.05 indicated a significant finding. Results: Forty-one horses were included: 11 were in Group S and 30 were in Group P (16 with bilateral OA, 8 with left OA and 6 with right OA). IRR outcomes ranged from good to excellent. For transverse and longitudinal ultrasound scans, the colour grading score of Group S was significantly higher than the metacarpophalangeal DJCs of Group P. Both Inter-CC and intra-CC were higher in Group S than in Group P, with values always > 0.8. Significative differences in EI and SR were detected between groups and between Group S and the affected limb of Group P; values were lower in Group S than in Group P. Conclusions: SE can be a useful technique for evaluating DJCs, with good repeatability and reproducibility. DJCs appear softer in sound horses.
Publication Date: 2021-05-29 PubMed ID: 34051815PubMed Central: PMC8164309DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02897-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Animal Health
- Animal Studies
- Clinical Study
- Comparative Study
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Diagnostic Technique
- Equine Health
- Fibrosis
- Horses
- Imaging Techniques
- Inflammation
- Joint Health
- Lameness
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Musculoskeletal System
- Osteoarthritis
- Reproducibility of Results
- Sonography
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The study explores the use of Strain Elastosonography (SE), a technique used for assessing tissue elasticity, to image the distal attachment of the joint capsule (DJC) of metacarpophalangeal joints in horses. The research specifically evaluates this technique within two groups of horses: healthy ones and those suffering from osteoarthritis. The results indicated that SE is a reliable method with good reproducibility for assessing DJCs and the capsular fibrosis in horses with osteoarthritis was shown to be harder than that in healthy animals.
Objective and Methodology of the Research
- The main aim of the research was to determine the viability, repeatability, and reproducibility of Strain Elastosonography (SE) for imaging the distal attachment of the joint capsule (DJC) of metacarpophalangeal joints in horses.
- The research was conducted on two groups of horses – Group S (sound horses) and Group P (horses with metacarpophalangeal osteoarthritis).
- A comprehensive lameness examination was carried out on each horse before their categorization into the two groups. The joint capsules examined in this study were then examined by two different operators utilizing SE.
- The elastograms or images of elastic tissues that were generated using SE were evaluated using both qualitative (colour grading score) and semi-quantitative (elasticity index, EI; and strain ratio, SR) methods.
Findings and Analysis
- 41 horses took part in the study, 11 of which were sound (Group S), and 30 of which had osteoarthritis (Group P).
- The Inter-rater reliability (IRR), which shows the level of agreement between different raters, ranged from good to excellent, indicating a high level of consistency between the two operators conducting the evaluations.
- The color grading score of healthy horses (Group S) was found to be significantly higher than the scores of horses with osteoarthritis (Group P).
- The intra-class correlation coefficient (intra-CC) and the inter-class correlation coefficient (inter-CC) were both higher in Group S than in Group P, demonstrating a higher level of consistency within and between the two groups.
- Significant differences in the elasticity index (EI) and strain ratio (SR) were observed between the two groups. The values were lower in healthy horses (Group S) than in horses with osteoarthritis (Group P).
Conclusions
- The study concludes that Strain Elastosonography (SE) is a viable technique for evaluating the distal attachment of the joint capsule (DJC) in horses. It demonstrates good repeatability and reproducibility, which enhances its value as a reliable diagnostic tool.
- The research also found that the joint capsules appear to be softer in healthy (sound) horses than in horses suffering from osteoarthritis.
Cite This Article
APA
Straticò P, Guerri G, Palozzo A, Di Francesco P, Vignoli M, Varasano V, Petrizzi L.
(2021).
Elastosonographic features of the metacarpophalangeal joint capsule in horses.
BMC Vet Res, 17(1), 202.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-02897-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano D'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano D'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano D'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy. apalozzo@unite.it.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano D'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano D'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano D'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano D'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Elasticity Imaging Techniques / veterinary
- Feasibility Studies
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Joint Capsule / diagnostic imaging
- Joint Capsule / pathology
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Male
- Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Prospective Studies
- Reproducibility of Results
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Guerri G, Palozzo A, Straticò P, Varasano V, Celani G, Di Francesco P, Vignoli M, Petrizzi L. 2D-SWE of the Metacarpophalangeal Joint Capsule in Horses. Vet Sci 2022 Sep 4;9(9).
- Baccarin RYA, Seidel SRT, Michelacci YM, Tokawa PKA, Oliveira TM. Osteoarthritis: a common disease that should be avoided in the athletic horse's life. Anim Front 2022 Jun;12(3):25-36.
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