[Low-field magnetic resonance imaging of penetrating hoof injuries in 10 horses].

This research study evaluates the reliability of low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing foot diseases in horses caused by nail injuries. The study used MRI examinations on 10 horses and compared its results with conventional techniques to conclude that MRI is a reliable method, particularly for identifying injuries to the navicular bone and deep digital flexor tendon.

Objective

The research aimed to confirm the diagnostic reliability of low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for illnesses in the foot region of horses resulting from puncture injuries specifically by nails.

Methods

• The study performed MRI examinations on 10 horses with foot injuries.
• The results obtained from the MRI were then compared with conventional diagnostic methods like clinical, surgical, radiological, sonographic, and computed tomographic findings or post-mortem histological examination.

Results

• The research found that navicular bone involvement was most accurately detected using the MRI technique, particularly, when fat-suppressed T2 or short-TI inversion recovery (STIR) sequences were used.
• Defects in the deep digital flexor tendon were highly sensitive to the MRI examinations, although these results were less specific than the navicular bone results.
• The penetration tract or path of the puncturing foreign object (nail), was identifiable in all cases and in all planes using MRI, especially when T2-weighted fast spin echo sequences (T2w FSE) were used.
• Septic bursitis or inflammation of the bursa due to the infection was least accurately diagnosed through MRI.

Conclusions

• The study concluded that an MRI is a reliable method to diagnose diseases in the foot region of horses following foreign bodies’ injuries, particularly nails.
• A transverse T2-weighted fast-spin echo sequence is the best MRI method for demonstrating a penetration tract and tendon damage.
• For diagnosing bursitis, the crucial elements are visualisation of the penetration tract and the secondary reactions of the navicular bone.
• For the cases where the foreign object has not reached the bone, fat-suppressed sequences are good at showing bone involvement.
• The research emphasizes that MRI is beneficial for vital assessments of various internal structures of the hoof capsule, assisting the decision-making process for targeted therapies and preventing unnecessary treatment procedures.