MRI findings in 232 horses with lameness localized to the metacarpo(tarso)phalangeal region and without a radiographic diagnosis.
Abstract: Two hundred and thirty-two horses with lameness localized to the metacarpo(tarso)phalangeal (MCP/MTP) region without a radiographic diagnosis were evaluated. All horses had high-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the MCP/MTP region performed for the lame limb and the contralateral limb for comparison. There were 46 horses that had bilateral abnormalities in the forelimbs; 27 of these horses were not lame in the contralateral limb at the time of examination. Bilateral hind limb abnormalities were observed in 37 horses; 22 horses were not lame in the contralateral limb. Soft tissue abnormalities alone were observed in 218 limbs (162 horses). Subchondral bone and articular cartilage abnormalities alone were observed in 43 limbs (34 horses). A combination of soft tissue, subchondral bone, and cartilage abnormalities were observed in 64 limbs (36 horses). The distribution of primary abnormalities was as follows; oblique distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis (73 limbs in 56 horses), straight distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis (44 limbs in 38 horses), chronic subchondral bone injuries (15 limbs in 12 horses), suspensory ligament branch desmitis (14 limbs in 12 horses), collateral ligament desmitis (12 limbs in 12 horses), tendonitis of the superficial and deep digital flexor tendons (10 limbs in 10 horses), osteochondral defects greater than 1 cm (nine limbs in six horses), osteochondral defects less than 1 cm (eight limbs in seven horses), bone marrow lesions (six limbs in five horses), intersesamoidean ligament desmitis (five limbs in four horses). MR imaging is useful in diagnosing bone and soft tissue injuries when radiographs and ultrasound fail to yield a diagnosis.
© 2012 Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound.
Publication Date: 2012-10-01 PubMed ID: 23020207DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2012.01983.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Articular Cartilage
- Bone Marrow
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Disease Diagnosis
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Injury
- Lameness
- Ligaments
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint
- Musculoskeletal System
- Radiology
- Soft Tissue
- Subchondral Bone
- Tendons
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article discusses the utilization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing bone and soft tissue injuries in horses when regular radiographs and ultrasounds fail to provide sufficient diagnosis. The study involved 232 horses that showed lameness localized to the metacarpo(tarso)phalangeal (MCP/MTP) region.
Study and Methodology
- The research undertaken involved an exhaustive examination of 232 horses who exhibited symptoms of lameness (difficulty in walking) localized to the metacarpo(tarso)phalangeal (MCP/MTP) region. However, these symptoms couldn’t be diagnosed through traditional radiography.
- High-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was used for all the horses on their lame and the contralateral limbs. The contralateral limbs helped serve as a point of comparison.
Findings & Observations
- The research found several horses manifested bilateral abnormalities, thereby indicating that the injury or abnormalities were not confined to one limb only. Nonetheless, not all these horses were lame in the contralateral limb at the time of examination. This was evident in 46 horses for forelimbs and 37 for the hind limbs.
- Soft tissue abnormalities alone were observed in a significant proportion of horses (218 limbs of 162 horses), suggesting this was a common issue. Meanwhile, subchondral bone and articular cartilage abnormalities alone were recorded in lesser instances (43 limbs of 34 horses).
- A combination of soft tissue, subchondral bone, and cartilage abnormalities were observed in 64 limbs of 36 horses, revealing that these issues can often overlap.
- Breaking down the primary abnormalities, the most common was oblique distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis, followed by straight distal sesamoidean ligament desmitis, chronic subchondral bone injuries, suspensory ligament branch desmitis, and others.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) proves itself a valuable tool in diagnosing bone and soft tissue injuries in horses, particularly when traditional diagnostic tools such as radiographs and ultrasound are not able to provide a diagnosis.
- This could potentially pave the way for better treatment and care strategies for horses, especially concerning limb abnormalities and injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
King JN, Zubrod CJ, Schneider RK, Sampson SN, Roberts G.
(2012).
MRI findings in 232 horses with lameness localized to the metacarpo(tarso)phalangeal region and without a radiographic diagnosis.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 54(1), 36-47.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2012.01983.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA. jking_dvm@hotmail.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthrography / veterinary
- Female
- Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
- Forelimb / injuries
- Forelimb / pathology
- Hindlimb / diagnostic imaging
- Hindlimb / injuries
- Hindlimb / pathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / injuries
- Joints / injuries
- Joints / pathology
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Toe Phalanges / injuries
- Toe Phalanges / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Braucke AFGV, Frederiksen NL, Berg LC, Aarsvold S, Müller FC, Boesen MP, Lindegaard C. Identification and Quantification of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in Equine Articular Tissue. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 18;10(3).
- Le Roux C, Carstens A. Axial sesamoiditis in the horse: A review. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2018 Mar 29;89(0):e1-e8.
- Smith AD, Morton AJ, Winter MD, Colahan PT, Ghivizzani S, Brown MP, Hernandez JA, Nickerson DM. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCORING OF AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF POST-TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE EQUINE CARPUS. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2016 Sep;57(5):502-14.
- Bertuglia A, Mollo G, Bullone M, Riccio B. Identification of surgically-induced longitudinal lesions of the equine deep digital flexor tendon in the digital flexor tendon sheath using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: an ex-vivo pilot study. Acta Vet Scand 2014 Nov 25;56(1):78.
- De Zani D, Rabbogliatti V, Rabba S, Auletta L, Longo M, Zani DD. Subchondral and Osteochondral Unit Bone Damage in the Fetlock Region of Sport Horses Using Low-Field MRI: Case Series. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 2;15(23).
- Aßmann AD, Sànchez-Andrade JS, Argüelles D, Bischofberger AS. Does Low-Field MRI Tenography Improve the Detection of Naturally Occurring Manica Flexoria Tears in Horses?. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 31;15(15).
- Miles S, McCauley C, Carossino M, Del Piero F, Liu CC, Gaschen L. Normal MRI features of the manica flexoria in horses and evaluation of the anatomic variability between forelimbs and hindlimbs. PLoS One 2025;20(7):e0327880.
- Nagy A, Dyson SJ. Combined standing low-field magnetic resonance imaging and fan-beam computed tomographic diagnosis of fetlock region pain in 27 sports horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1313-1327.
- 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.
- Schiavo S, Beccati F, Pokora R, Lin ST, Milmine RC, Bak L, Peter VG, Murray RC. Lesion Distribution in the Metacarpophalangeal and Metatarsophalangeal Region of 341 Horses Using Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 25;14(13).
- 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).
- Nahas AE, Almohamad Z, Hagag U. Ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the dromedary camel distal limbs. BMC Vet Res 2024 Jan 5;20(1):12.
- Aßmann A, Ohlerth S, Hartmann S, Torgerson P, Bischofberger A. Does Direct MRI Tenography Improve the Diagnostic Performance of Low-Field MRI to Identify Artificially Created Soft-Tissue Lesions within the Equine Cadaveric Digital Flexor Tendon Sheath?. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 7;13(24).
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