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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Progression of shallow medial femoral condyle radiographic l...
Equine veterinary journal2020; 53(2); 287-293; doi: 10.1111/evj.13298

Progression of shallow medial femoral condyle radiographic lucencies in Thoroughbred repository radiographs and their influence on future racing careers.

Abstract: Shallow lucencies less than 4 mm deep into the medial femoral condyle (MFC) are frequent in Thoroughbred horses undergoing screening sales radiographs. It is unclear if these shallow defects are precursors to larger cystic lesions or if they are fully developed defects that remodel into a flattened femoral condyle. Objective: To evaluate radiological lucencies of the MFC and their progression in size, in a cohort of Thoroughbred horses, ranging from 5 to 18 months of age and to report on the racing careers of these horses compared to their maternal siblings free of stifle pathology. Methods: Retrospective cohort. Methods: Radiographic reports were reviewed to identify cases with MFC lucency. Medical data including age at the time of radiographic sale set, sex, and MFC lucency radiographic measurements were recorded. The data were analysed for changes in lucency morphology. Racing data were collected and analysed for the following 5 years. Results: From 12 938 sales reports reviewed, 3874 horses were found to have radiographic sets available at both weanling and yearling sales. A MFC lucency ≤3 mm in depth was diagnosed in at least one radiographic sales set in 248 horses (6.4%). The right femur was more commonly affected (73.9%) than the left. Radiographic lucencies in the left femur were significantly smaller (P = .02) than lucencies in the right femur. Radiographic lucencies resolved in 6.1% of cases, 3.6% of cases developed into a cyst, 40.7% of cases were unchanged in size, 23.6% of lucencies decreased in size and 8.2% increased in size. Cysts >3 mm deep regressed into smaller lesions accounting for 4.9% of the lucencies, and 12.9% of lucencies developed from a normal or flat medial femoral condyle contour. Horses with a medial femoral condyle lucency had significantly less starts as a 2-year-old vs. their maternal siblings (P < .01). Conclusions: Data were collected retrospectively. Measurement errors may have occurred due to the measuring tool scale, small size of the defects and/or radiographic position. Treatments between radiographic studies were unknown and could not be accounted for. Observers were not blinded to radiographic sales reports. Conclusions: Radiographically diagnosed lucencies in the MFC of immature Thoroughbreds have the potential to fully resolve or develop into a cyst. However, most radiographic lucencies do not change in size. Thoroughbreds with MFC lucencies had less starts as 2-year-olds when compared to their maternal siblings free of stifle pathology.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-14 PubMed ID: 32500531DOI: 10.1111/evj.13298Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The article investigates radiographic glare or ‘lucencies’ in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) area in young Thoroughbred horses, examining their development and the impact on their racing careers.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The study aimed to examine the progression of lucencies or shallow defects in the medial femoral condyle (MFC), which is a part of the thigh bone in horses, and determine their influence on the horses’ future racing careers.
  • The researchers used retrospective methodology, analyzing previous radiographic reports to identify cases with MFC lucency. Various data such as the age of the horse at the time of radiographic sale set, sex, and radiographic measurements of MFC lucency were recorded and analyzed.
  • The influence of these lucencies on racing careers was assessed for the following five years, through data collection and analysis.

Results

  • The study reviewed 12,938 sales reports and found that 248 out of 3874 horses displayed an MFC lucency equal to, or less than 3 mm deep.
  • The right femur was more affected (73.9%) than the left, and the lucencies in the left femur were significantly smaller.
  • Upon examination of the progression of the lucencies: 6.1% resolved, 3.6% developed into a cyst, 40.7% remained unchanged in size, 23.6% decreased in size and 8.2% increased in size.
  • Cysts more than 3 mm deep regressed into smaller lesions accounting for 4.9% of the lucencies, and 12.9% of lucencies developed from a normal or flat medial femoral condyle contour.
  • It was observed that horses with an MFC lucency had significantly fewer starts as 2-year-olds when compared to their siblings who didn’t have this condition.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that radiographically diagnosed lucencies in the MFC of young Thoroughbreds have the potential to fully resolve or develop into cysts, but most lucencies remain unchanged in size.
  • It also noted that Thoroughbreds with MFC lucencies had fewer starts as 2-year-olds when compared to their siblings free of this pathology.
  • The study acknowledged potential errors due to the retrospective data collection, measuring tool scale, small size of the defects, radiographic position, or the lack of information about treatments between radiographic studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Pérez-Nogués M, Derham A, Marmion J, True Baker W. (2020). Progression of shallow medial femoral condyle radiographic lucencies in Thoroughbred repository radiographs and their influence on future racing careers. Equine Vet J, 53(2), 287-293. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13298

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 53
Issue: 2
Pages: 287-293

Researcher Affiliations

Pérez-Nogués, Marcos
  • Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
Derham, Ann
  • Oaklands Equine Hospital, Yarm, Yorkshire, UK.
Marmion, James
  • Professional Equine Sports Medicine, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
True Baker, William
  • Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, KY, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Femur / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stifle / diagnostic imaging

References

This article includes 23 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Pérez-Nogués M, Manso-Díaz G, Spirito M, López-Sanromán J. Treatment Comparison for Medial Femoral Condyle Subchondral Cystic Lesions and Prognosis in Yearling Thoroughbred Racehorse Prospects. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 6;14(7).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14071122pubmed: 38612360google scholar: lookup
  2. Pérez-Nogués M, López-Sanromán J, Spirito M, Manso-Díaz G. Treatments and Prognosis for Subchondral Cystic Lesions in the Distal Extremities in Thoroughbred Prospect Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 7;13(18).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13182838pubmed: 37760238google scholar: lookup
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