Outcome of medical treatment for horses with foot pain: 56 cases.

This study investigates the long-term outcomes for horses suffering from foot pain and treated through medical methods, such as corrective shoeing, rest, rehabilitation, and anti-inflammatory medication. The results indicated that horses with multiple foot lesions or a deep digital flexor tendinopathy had a worse prognosis.

Research Aim

• The aim of the research was to gauge the long-term outcomes (≥12 months) of medically treating horses suffering from foot pain. The researchers primarily investigated if there were links between clinical parameters and a poor response to therapy, and how a deep digital flexor tendinopathy affects a horse’s response to medical treatment.

Methodology

• The researchers conducted a retrospective examination of the medical records of horses that had received MRI examinations and medical treatment for foot pain between 2005-2007.
• This included the collection of data such as their medical history, gender, age, occupation, duration and severity of lameness at the time of the MRI, and any radiological and MRI anomalies.
• The research also collected data on the number of treatments each horse received, any complications that arose, and their long-term response to treatment via detailed telephone questionnaires.
• The researchers then explored any associations between clinical and MRI findings and long-term lameness.

Results

• The most abnormally affected structures in the horses were the navicular bone, the deep digital flexor tendon, the navicular bursa, and the distal interphalangeal joint.
• Out of the 56 horses, 34 (60.7%) were unable to return to their previous level of exercise due to ongoing or repeated lameness, or the owners’ decision to reduce the horse’s athletic level. However, 11 horses (32.3%) were being used for light riding.
• The prognosis for horses with simultaneous deep digital flexor tendon, navicular bone, and navicular bursa lesions was worse than those just having individual lesions.
• Deep digital flexor tendinopathy was strongly linked with ongoing or repeated lameness.

Conclusions

• The research concludes that horses with multiple foot lesions that are managed with conservative therapy are likely to have a poor long-term prognosis for soundness.
• The presence of deep digital flexor tendinopathy also negatively impacts the prognosis.