Prevalence of supporting limb laminitis in a UK equine practice and referral hospital setting between 2005 and 2013: implications for future epidemiological studies.
Abstract: The electronic patient records of all equine patients of Rossdales Equine Practice between January 1, 2005 and November 1, 2013 were reviewed to determine the number of cases of supporting limb laminitis (SLL) in a large equine practice and referral hospital setting in the UK and to discuss the implications for future epidemiological studies. The clinical notes were searched electronically for a combination of 'laminitis AND (contralateral OR supporting OR overload OR weight bearing)'. The prevalence of SLL within each identified denominator population and the corresponding 95% CI were calculated. SLL developed in nine horses, one donkey and one pony. Thoroughbreds were the most commonly affected breed (72.7 per cent, CI 46.4 to 99.1 per cent), aged 2-14 years (median six years), and only mares (n=9) and stallions (n=2) were represented. SLL was not restricted to horses that were non-weightbearing lame, it developed within 4-100 days after injury (median 14.5 days) and occurred most commonly in a forelimb (54.6 per cent, CI 25.1 to 84.0 per cent). During the same time frame, a total of 65,327 horses were registered with Rossdales Equine Practice, resulting in an overall practice prevalence of SLL of 0.02 per cent (CI 0.01 to 0.03 per cent). Future epidemiological studies to investigate risk factors for SLL prevention will, therefore, be a logistical challenge.
British Veterinary Association.
Publication Date: 2014-09-26 PubMed ID: 25261271DOI: 10.1136/vr.102426Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article describes a study conducted at the Rossdales Equine Practice in the UK, where electronic patient records were reviewed to find how common supporting limb laminitis (SLL) is among horses, donkeys, and ponies. The study also highlights the challenges in carrying out future epidemiological studies due to the low prevalence of SLL.
Methodology
- The researchers reviewed electronic patient records at Rossdales Equine Practice from January 1, 2005, to November 1, 2013.
- The clinical notes were searched for any mention or diagnoses of laminitis, in combination with terms including ‘contralateral,’ ‘supporting,’ ‘overload,’ or ‘weight bearing.’ This was done to identify instances of SLL.
- The prevalence of SLL cases was calculated for each population group recorded in the dataset. A 95% confidence interval (CI) was also determined.
Results
- In the given period, SLL developed in nine horses, one donkey, and one pony. The most affected breed was Thoroughbreds, with 72.7% of cases. Their ages ranged from 2 to 14 years, with a median of six years.
- Only female (mares) and male (stallions) horses were affected; no neutered (gelding) horses were identified with SLL.
- The condition was not limited to horses that were non-weightbearing lame. It developed within 4 to 100 days after an injury.
- A forelimb was the most common site of SLL occurrence, accounting for 54.6% of cases.
- During the same time frame, a total of 65,327 horses were registered with the practice, and the overall prevalence of SLL among them was found to be 0.02% (CI 0.01 to 0.03%).
Implications
- Despite the thorough examination of records over a near-decade long period, the prevalence of SLL was found to be quite low.
- This low prevalence presents a logistical challenge for future epidemiological studies looking to investigate the risk factors for SLL since a much larger dataset will be required to draw statistically significant conclusions.
Cite This Article
APA
Wylie CE, Newton JR, Bathe AP, Payne RJ.
(2014).
Prevalence of supporting limb laminitis in a UK equine practice and referral hospital setting between 2005 and 2013: implications for future epidemiological studies.
Vet Rec, 176(3), 72.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.102426 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket CB8 7NN, UK.
- Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket CB8 7UU, UK.
- Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket CB8 7NN, UK.
- Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, Exning, Newmarket CB8 7NN, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Epidemiologic Studies
- Foot Diseases / epidemiology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Forecasting
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal / statistics & numerical data
- Inflammation / epidemiology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Referral and Consultation / statistics & numerical data
- United Kingdom / epidemiology
- Weight-Bearing
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Turek B, Jankowski K, Pawlikowski M, Jasiński T, Domino M. Innovative approach in the treatment of comminuted proximal phalanx fractures in horses based on biomechanical modelling. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 19;15(1):13562.
- Senderska-Płonowska M, Siwińska N, Zak-Bochenek A, Rykała M, Słowikowska M, Madej JP, Kaleta-Kuratewicz K, Niedźwiedź A. The Differences in Histoarchitecture of Hoof Lamellae between Obese and Lean Draft Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jul 11;12(14).
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