Progression and association with lameness and racing performance of radiographic changes in the proximal sesamoid bones of young standardbred trotters.
Abstract: Radiographic examination of the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints was performed on 753 Standardbred trotters (6-21 months of age): 21 showed obvious changes in 26 proximal sesamoid bones on lateromedial projection. The radiographic changes were divided into 6 different types: (1) irregular abaxial margin (8 horses); (2) enlargement of the sesamoid bone (6 horses); (3) 'fracture' or separate centre of ossification of the apex (4 horses); (4) vertical, non-articular fracture of the plantar part of the sesamoid bone (1 horse); (5) a small bony fragment located in a defect in the apical part of the bone (2 horses); and (6) multiple areas of decreased radiodensity (1 horse). Each horse displayed only one type of radiographic change except for one which possessed those of types 3 and 5. Follow-up radiographic examination of 21 of the 26 affected proximal sesamoid bones at approximately 6-month intervals revealed a reduction in the changes in 13 bones and an unaltered condition in 8. Lameness examination was performed on 16 of the 21 horses at 3 years of age and 14 (87.5%) were observed to be lame, but detected lameness did not seem to be referrable to the sesamoid changes. Earnings after the racing season as 3- and 4-year-old horses showed no differences (P > 0.05) between horses with radiographic changes in the proximal sesamoid bones and those without such changes.
Publication Date: 1994-03-01 PubMed ID: 8575380DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04356.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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 the study of changes in the proximal sesamoid bones of 6-21-month old Standardbred trotters and the corresponding impact on lameness and racing performance, revealing that, while some changes were observed, there was no significant correlation with the observed lameness or differences in earnings after racing seasons.
Objectives of the Study
- The study aimed to examine irregularities and changes in the proximal sesamoid bones of young Standardbred trotters through radiographic examination.
- Another objective was to investigate the progression of these changes over approximately six-month intervals.
- The research also sought to determine if these changes were associated with lameness in the horses at the age of three years.
- Moreover, the study attempted to check whether these changes had any impact on the horses’ earnings after their racing seasons as 3- and 4-year-old horses.
Study Sample and Observations
- The research involved a sample group of 753 Standardbred trotters, with ages ranging from 6 to 21 months. Among these, 21 showed observable changes in their proximal sesamoid bones.
- The detected changes were categorized into 6 different types, each typifying a specific irregularity or anomaly in the sesamoid bones. Each horse exhibited only one type of such radiographic alteration, with one exception.
Progression of Radiographic Changes
- The researchers conducted follow-up radiographic examinations on 21 out of 26 affected bones at approximately 6-month intervals. This revealed a reduction in some changes (13 bones) and no alteration in others (8 bones).
Association with Lameness and Racing Performance
- On the observation of lameness, it turned out that a significant proportion of the horses under consideration (14 out of 16, or 87.5%) were detected to be lame at the age of three years.
- However, the detected lameness did not seem to be attributable to the changes observed in the sesamoid bones.
- Furthermore, the research found no differences in the earnings generated after the racing seasons as 3- and 4-year-old horses, between those with radiographic changes in sesamoid bones and those without such changes.
Cite This Article
APA
Grøndahl AM, Gaustad G, Engeland A.
(1994).
Progression and association with lameness and racing performance of radiographic changes in the proximal sesamoid bones of young standardbred trotters.
Equine Vet J, 26(2), 152-155.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04356.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Disease Progression
- Female
- Horses / anatomy & histology
- Horses / physiology
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Exertion / physiology
- Radiography
- Sesamoid Bones / anatomy & histology
- Sesamoid Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Sesamoid Bones / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
