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Frontiers in veterinary science2021; 8; 714423; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.714423

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of the Proximal Metacarpal Region in Warmblood Horses: 36 Lame and 26 Control Limbs (2015-2021).

Abstract: This study aims to evaluate the distribution and severity of bone and soft tissue lesions in the proximal metacarpal region of warmblood horses in lame and control groups. Correlation between lesions and ability to return to work was evaluated in the lame group. This restrospective analysis evaluated 62 horses with MRI examination of the proximal metacarpal region between Sept 2015 and Feb 2021. There were 36 lame limbs and 26 control limbs. The control group included seven contralateral limbs. Proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) size was not different between the lame and control groups. Hyperintensity seen on T1W/T2W GRE images within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintense Short-TI Inversion Recovery (STIR) signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL or within the McIII were only present within the lame group. Palmar cortical McIII resorption and dorsal margin irregularity of the PSL and McIII sclerosis were more severe within the lame limbs, but mild gradations were also seen in control limbs. Intermediate gradings for a subset of lesions were commonly seen in the non-lame contralateral to lame limbs. Return to work in the lame group is not statistically different for any measured observation(s), and 19/33 of the lame horses returned to work at similar or higher levels. Fifty-eight percent in this group of warmblood horses returned to work within a variable time frame. The majority (81%) of lame limbs showed bone and soft tissue abnormalities, but no enlargement of the PSL was noted in lame horses, and no correlation was seen between the severity or type of lesions and the ability to return to work. The presence of STIR hyperintensity within the proximal McIII or dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintensity within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL on T1W GRE and T2W GRE images, as well as significant palmar cortical McIII resorption are considered clinically relevant lesions. Contralateral limbs may not truly represent the normal condition, showing nonclinical variations and adaptive remodeling.
Copyright © 2021 van Veggel, Selberg, van der Velde-Hoogelander, Bolas, Vanderperren and Bergman.
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Publication Date: 2021-08-12 PubMed ID: 34458356PubMed Central: PMC8388851DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.714423Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 is about comparing bone and soft tissue abnormalities in the proximal metacarpal region of lame and normal warmblood horses, and discussing their relationship to the horses’ capacity to return to work.

Research Methodology

  • The study did a retrospective analysis on a total of 62 warmblood horses that underwent MRI examination of their proximal metacarpal region from September 2015 to February 2021.
  • Among these, there were 36 lame limbs and 26 limbs in the control group. Seven limbs from the control group were on the opposite side of the lame limbs from the same horse, known as contralateral limbs.

Research Findings

  • The results of the MRI showed that the size of the Proximal Suspensory Ligament (PSL) was not different between the lame and control groups.
  • However, hyperintensity, which was observed on two types of Gradient Echo (GRE) images (T1W/T2W) within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintense Short-TI Inversion Recovery (STIR) signal within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL or within the third metacarpal (McIII) appeared only in the lame group.
  • Other findings in the lame limbs, such as increased palmar cortical McIII resorption, dorsal margin irregularity of the PSL, and McIII sclerosis were also more severe as compared to control limbs, though mild variations of these conditions were also seen in the control limbs.
  • Intermediate degrees of damage were frequently seen in contralateral limbs, indicating that they may not completely reflect a normal condition.

Return-to-Work Capacity

  • In terms of the horses’ return to work, 58% managed to return within a variable timeframe, and among the lame horses specifically, about 19/33 of them resumed work at similar or even higher levels than before.
  • However, there was not found to be a statistical significance between the degree or type of lesion and the capacity for horses to return back to work.

Important Lesions

  • The presence of STIR hyperintensity in the proximal McIII or dorsal collagenous part of the PSL and hyperintensity within the dorsal collagenous part of the PSL on T1W GRE and T2W GRE images, as well as significant palmar cortical McIII resorption were considered clinically significant lesions detected through the MRI.
  • This implies that these specific abnormalities could be key indicators to the health of the proximal metacarpal region in warmblood horses.

Cite This Article

APA
van Veggel E, Selberg K, van der Velde-Hoogelander B, Bolas N, Vanderperren K, Bergman HJ. (2021). Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of the Proximal Metacarpal Region in Warmblood Horses: 36 Lame and 26 Control Limbs (2015-2021). Front Vet Sci, 8, 714423. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.714423

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 714423
PII: 714423

Researcher Affiliations

van Veggel, Elisabeth
  • Sporthorse Medical Diagnostic Centre, Heesch, Netherlands.
Selberg, Kurt
  • Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
van der Velde-Hoogelander, Brenda
  • Sporthorse Medical Diagnostic Centre, Heesch, Netherlands.
Bolas, Nick
  • Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Ltd, Guildford, United Kingdom.
Vanderperren, Katrien
  • Department of Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals and Orthopedics of Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Bergman, Hendrik Jan
  • Sporthorse Medical Diagnostic Centre, Heesch, Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

NB is employed by Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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  2. Guest DJ, Birch HL, Thorpe CT. A review of the equine suspensory ligament: Injury prone yet understudied. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1167-1182.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14447pubmed: 39604165google scholar: lookup
  3. van Veggel ECS, Vanderperren K, Selberg KT, Bergman HJ, Hoogelander B. The Evolution of Lesions on Follow-Up Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Proximal Metacarpal Region in Non-Racing Sport Horses That Returned to Work (2015-2023). Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 8;14(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14121731pubmed: 38929351google scholar: lookup
  4. Nagy A, Dyson S. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomographic and Radiographic Findings in the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of 31 Warmblood Showjumpers in Full Work and Competing Regularly. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 9;14(10).
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  5. Germonpré J, Vandekerckhove LMJ, Raes E, Chiers K, Jans L, Vanderperren K. Post-mortem feasibility of dual-energy computed tomography in the detection of bone edema-like lesions in the equine foot: a proof of concept. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1201017.
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  6. Dancot M, Joostens Z, Audigié F, Busoni V. The plantar proximal cortex of the third metatarsal bone shows raised longitudinal ridges at the suspensory ligament enthesis in normal equine isolated limbs - a radiographic, computed tomography, and MRI study. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1265116.
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