FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Open Vet J / First phalanx exostosis in traditional equestrian horses in ...
Open veterinary journal2022; 12(1); 69-74; doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i1.8

First phalanx exostosis in traditional equestrian horses in Western Libya.

Abstract: Orthopedic diseases involving the forelimb fetlock joint of horses other than those used in professional racing have not been widely reported in the literature. One of these problems is the exostosis on the proximal forelimb phalanx (P1), which has not been reported previously in Western Libya. The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of P1 exostosis in traditional equestrian horses (known locally as Sarj horses) of different breeds in Libya that participated in a special social event and described its clinical findings radiographic appearance. The current study involved 60 horses admitted to private veterinary clinics with varied fetlock orthopedic problems. The studied horses were aged between 6 and 11 years old and galloped on hard grounds. Clinical and radiographic examinations were carried out on all horses. Lateromedial radiographs for one or both forelimb fetlock joints were acquired for each horse. Clinical examination revealed that 21 horses (35%) had hard non-painful swelling on the dorsal aspect of fetlock with joint stiffness during flexion. In 19 of them, the swelling was bilateral. No forelimb lameness was noticed. Radiographically, hard swelling was diagnosed as bone exostosis, with various sizes, on the proximo-dorsal aspect of P1. There was also a new bone formation on the disto-dorsal part of third metacarpal bone in two cases. This study has documented the first report on bone exostosis on the proximo-dorsal aspect of the forelimb proximal phalanx as a common problem in Sarj horses that galloped on hard grounds in Western Libya. Although this bone lesion did not cause lameness in all reported cases, further investigations are warranted to identify its histopathological nature, potential etiology, and proper treatment.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-01-25 PubMed ID: 35342735PubMed Central: PMC8956240DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i1.8Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

The research paper focuses on the high prevalence of a bone condition called exostosis, specifically on the proximal phalanx (P1) or first joint of the forelimb, in traditional equestrian horses in Western Libya. Despite no reported lameness, the study calls for further examination to understand the condition’s cause, nature, and suitable treatment.

Research Aim and Methodology

  • The research aimed to uncover and record the prevalence and characteristics of P1 exostosis, a condition where bony growth occurs in unexpected places, in traditional equestrian horses in Western Libya. These horses, locally known as Sarj horses, are distinct from professional racehorses which are typically the subjects of similar studies.
  • The study was prompted as similar issues had been previously unreported in the region.
  • 60 horses, aged between 6 to 11 years, who were admitted to veterinary clinics with diverse fetlock orthopedic problems, were examined. All these horses were used to running on hard surfaces.
  • The examination procedures included a clinical exam of each horse’s physical conditions, followed by a radiographic examination (also known as X-ray examination) for detailed internal diagnosis.

Clinical and Radiographic Findings

  • Upon clinical examination, it was found that 35% of the horses had hard, non-painful swelling on the top (dorsal aspect) of their fetlock (ankle) joint, and joint stiffness during flexion. The swelling was found in both limbs in 19 out of the 21 affected horses.
  • Interestingly, none of the horses showed lameness in either of their forelimbs.
  • The radiographic examination confirmed the hard swelling as bone exostosis of varying sizes, located on the dorso-proximal aspect of the forelimb’s P1.
  • In two cases, new bone formation was observed on the disto-dorsal part of the third metacarpal bone.

Conclusions and Future Avenues

  • The study concluded by affirming the prevalence of bone exostosis on the dorsal-proximal aspect of the forelimb P1 joint in traditional equestrian horses used to hard surfaces in Western Libya, marking this as the first official documentation of the phenomenon.
  • While the current cases did not show lameness, the research highlights the need for further in-depth investigations to identify the histopathological nature of the condition, its potential etiology (causative factors), and appropriate treatment methods.

Cite This Article

APA
Abushhiwa MH, Elmeshreghi TN, Alrtib AM, Bennour EM, Oheida AH. (2022). First phalanx exostosis in traditional equestrian horses in Western Libya. Open Vet J, 12(1), 69-74. https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i1.8

Publication

Open veterinary journal
ISSN: 2218-6050
NlmUniqueID: 101653182
Country: Libya
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Pages: 69-74

Researcher Affiliations

Abushhiwa, Mohamed H
  • Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
Elmeshreghi, Taher N
  • Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
Alrtib, Abdulrhman M
  • Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
Bennour, Emad M
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
Oheida, Aiman H
  • Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Exostoses / diagnosis
  • Exostoses / epidemiology
  • Exostoses / veterinary
  • Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
  • Forelimb / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Libya / epidemiology
  • Radiography

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 28 references
  1. Barton CK, Sandow CB, Rodgerson DH. Radiographic Description of a Bone Exostosis Lesion on the Caudal Aspect of the Proximal Tibia in Three Thoroughbred Yearlings (2014-2019).. J Equine Vet Sci 2020 Dec;95:103238.
    pubmed: 33276936doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103238google scholar: lookup
  2. Bertoni L, Forresu D, Coudry V, Audigie F, Denoix JM. Exostoses on the palmar or plantar aspect of the diaphysis of the third metacarpal or metatarsal bone in horses: 16 cases (2001-2010).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2012 Mar 15;240(6):740-7.
    pubmed: 22380813doi: 10.2460/javma.240.6.740google scholar: lookup
  3. Bramlage LR. Operative orthopedics of the fetlock joint of the horse: traumatic and developmental diseases of the equine fetlock joint. Proc. Am. Ass. Equine Practnrs 2009;55:96–143.
  4. Bramlage LR, Gabel AA, Hackett RP. Avulsion fractures of the origin of the suspensory ligament of the horse.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1980 May 15;176(10 Pt 1):1004-10.
    pubmed: 7380714
  5. Butcher MT, Ashley-Ross MA. Fetlock joint kinematics differ with age in Thoroughbred [was thoroughbred] racehorses.. J Biomech 2002 May;35(5):563-71.
    pubmed: 11955495doi: 10.1016/s0021-9290(01)00223-8google scholar: lookup
  6. Butler JA, Colles CM, Dyson SJ, Kold SE, Poulos PW. Clinical radiology of the horse. .
  7. Chew FS, Weissleder R. Radiation-induced osteochondroma.. AJR Am J Roentgenol 1991 Oct;157(4):792.
    pubmed: 1892038doi: 10.2214/ajr.157.4.1892038google scholar: lookup
  8. Collins JA. Ossifying fibroma/osteoma in the proximal tibia of a mature gelding.. Vet Rec 1998 Sep 26;143(13):367-8.
    pubmed: 9800307doi: 10.1136/vr.143.13.367google scholar: lookup
  9. Davies HM, McCarthy RN, Jeffcott LB. Surface strain on the dorsal metacarpus of thoroughbreds at different speeds and gaits.. Acta Anat (Basel) 1993;146(2-3):148-53.
    pubmed: 8470458doi: 10.1159/000147437google scholar: lookup
  10. De Souza T, Jones R, Foote A, Suthers J. Computed tomographic (CT) arthrogram contributes to the diagnosis of an osteochondroma of the distal calcaneus in a horse. Equine Vet. Educ. 2021;33:186–191.
  11. Easter JL, Watkins JP, Berrige B, Homco LD. A digital osteochondroma as the course of lameness in a foal. Vet. Comp. Ortho. Traumatol. 1998;11:49–51.
  12. Gunnarsson V, Stefánsdóttir GJ, Jansson A, Roepstorff L. The effect of rider weight and additional weight in Icelandic horses in tölt: part II. Stride parameters responses.. Animal 2017 Sep;11(9):1567-1572.
    pmc: PMC5561436pubmed: 28320491doi: 10.1017/s1751731117000568google scholar: lookup
  13. Honnas CM. Surgical treatment of selected musculoskeletal disorders of the forelimb. In: Auer JA, editor. In Equine surgery. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co; 1992. pp. 985–1051.
  14. Horan K, Coburn J, Kourdache K, Day P, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Carnall H, Hammond L, Peterson M, Millard S, Pfau T. Influence of Speed, Ground Surface and Shoeing Condition on Hoof Breakover Duration in Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 3;11(9).
    pmc: PMC8472780pubmed: 34573553doi: 10.3390/ani11092588google scholar: lookup
  15. Kumar S. Theories of musculoskeletal injury causation.. Ergonomics 2001 Jan 15;44(1):17-47.
    pubmed: 11214897doi: 10.1080/00140130120716google scholar: lookup
  16. Lin TW, Cardenas L, Soslowsky LJ. Biomechanics of tendon injury and repair.. J Biomech 2004 Jun;37(6):865-77.
    pubmed: 15111074doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2003.11.005google scholar: lookup
  17. Merritt JS, Pandy MG, Brown NA, Burvill CR, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Davies HM. Mechanical loading of the distal end of the third metacarpal bone in horses during walking and trotting.. Am J Vet Res 2010 May;71(5):508-14.
    pubmed: 20433375doi: 10.2460/ajvr.71.5.508google scholar: lookup
  18. Nixon AJ, Schachter BL, Pool RR. Exostoses of the caudal perimeter of the radial physis as a cause of carpal synovial sheath tenosynovitis and lameness in horses: 10 cases (1999-2003).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004 Jan 15;224(2):264-70.
    pubmed: 14736072doi: 10.2460/javma.2004.224.264google scholar: lookup
  19. O’Sullivan CB. Injuries of the flexor tendons: focus on the superficial digital flexor tendon. Clin. Tech. Equine Pract. 2007;6:189–197.
  20. Pool RR. Tumors of bone and cartilage. In: Moulton JE, editor. In Tumors in domestic animals. 3rd. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press; 1990. pp. 181–195.
  21. Reed SM, Bayly WM, Sellon DC. Equine internal medicine. St. Louis, Missouri, USA: Elsevier Health Sciences; 2017.
  22. Scheffer CJ, Back W. Effects of 'navicular' shoeing on equine distal forelimb kinematics on different track surface.. Vet Q 2001 Nov;23(4):191-5.
    pubmed: 11765238doi: 10.1080/01652176.2001.9695111google scholar: lookup
  23. Seghrouchni M, Bollo E, Piro M, Alyakine H, Bouayad H, Chakir J, Azrib R, Allali KE. Osteochondroma of the First Phalanx in Tbourida Horses.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:328.
    pmc: PMC6331405pubmed: 30671439doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00328google scholar: lookup
  24. Seghrouchni M, Elkasraoui H, Piro M, Alyakine H, Bouayad H, Chakir J, Tligui N, Elallali K, Azrib R. Osteoarticular radiographic findings of the distal forelimbs in Tbourida Horses.. Heliyon 2019 Sep;5(9):e02514.
    pmc: PMC6819765pubmed: 31687602doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02514google scholar: lookup
  25. Shaw DJ, Rosanowski SM. Tropical joint syndrome: exostosis on the dorsal aspect of the proximal phalanx in racing Thoroughbreds in Asia. Equine Vet. Educ. 2019;32:60–65.
  26. Vanderperren K, Saunders JH. Diagnostic imaging of the equine fetlock region using radiography and ultrasonography. Part 2: the bony disorders.. Vet J 2009 Aug;181(2):123-36.
    pubmed: 18467136doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.01.017google scholar: lookup
  27. Widmer RW, Blevins EW. Radiographic evaluation of degenerative joint disease in horses. Compend. Contin. Educ. Pract. Vet. 1994;16:907–920.
  28. Zubrod CJ, Schneider RK, Tucker RL. Use of magnetic resonance imaging identify suspensory desmitis and adhesions between exostoses of the second metacarpal bone and the suspensory ligament in four horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2004 Jun 1;224(11):1815-20, 1789.
    pubmed: 15198268doi: 10.2460/javma.2004.224.1815google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Sawesi OK, Elbaz AK, Mahmoud AS, Duro EM, Alteab AA, Milad KK, Bennuor EM. Hematological reference values of horses in Western Libya and their relationship to breed, age, and management. Open Vet J 2023 Dec;13(12):1696-1707.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i12.18pubmed: 38292715google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.