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Radiographic evaluation of sclerosis of the third carpal bone associated with exercise and the development of lameness in Standardbred racehorses.
Abstract: Sclerosis of the third carpal bone is a common radiographic finding in both lame and sound racehorses, but there are no guidelines correlating degree of sclerosis and incidence of lameness. Objective: To develop a protocol for describing subchondral bone sclerosis in C3 on dorsoproximal-dorsodistal oblique (DPr-DDiO) radiographs of the carpus and to correlate these changes with exercise history and carpal lameness. Methods: One hundred and six Standardbreds entering their first year of training (exercise group) and 7 age-matched Standardbreds at pasture (controls) were examined at approximately 3 month intervals over 12-18 months. Examinations consisted of lameness evaluation and carpal radiographs (DPr-DDiO and flexed lateromedial projections). A grading system (very mild, mild, moderate and severe) for C3 sclerosis seen on the DPr-DDiO radiograph was developed that utilised a combination of the criteria of trabecular thickening (trabecular score; TS) and total percent area of the C3 radial facet affected (TAA). Results: Exercise group horses showed significant increase in TS and TAA throughout training compared to control horses. Middle carpal joint lameness developed in 32/106 (30%) exercise group horses and none of the control horses. Incidence of middle carpal joint (MCJ) lameness was lower in horses with mild (2/30, 6.7%) than moderate (10/32, 31.2%) and severe (20/44, 45.4%) sclerosis throughout training. Conclusions: Horses with higher grades of sclerosis, as defined by this novel grading system, were more likely to develop MCJ lameness at some point of training. The proposed grading system gave a quantitative assessment of radiographic sclerosis that could then be used to correlate increasing severity of sclerosis with increasing incidences of lameness. Conclusions: These results serve as a basis for further investigation into determining the degree of C3 sclerosis at which pathological changes and lameness can be expected.
Publication Date: 2004-07-16 PubMed ID: 15253087DOI: 10.2746/0425164044868341Google 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study explored the correlation between the degree of sclerosis, an abnormal hardening of tissue, in the third carpal bone of Standardbred racehorses and the development of lameness. The researchers set out to establish a grading system for sclerosis that can be used with radiographs, and found that horses with higher grades of sclerosis were more likely to develop lameness.
Objective and Methodology
- The objective of the study was to develop a protocol for describing subchondral bone sclerosis in the third carpal bone (C3) on certain types of radiographic images, and to connect these observed changes with the horse’s exercise history and instances of carpal lameness.
- They studied 106 Standardbred horses entering their first year of training and compared them to 7 age-matched horses living at pasture.
- They examined each horse at approximately three-month intervals over a 12-18 month period. These examinations included an evaluation for lameness and radiographic images of the carpal bone (taken from two specific angles).
- The researchers developed a grading system for C3 sclerosis observed in the radiographic images, based on a combination of criteria. These included trabecular thickening (a measure of bone density) and the total affected area of a specific facet of the C3 bone.
Findings
- The results from the exercise group showed a significant increase in trabecular thickening and the total affected area throughout their training, compared to the control group.
- Lameness in the joint connecting the carpus to the main body of the horse (the middle carpal joint, or MCJ), developed in 30% of exercise group horses but in none of the controls.
- Incidence of MCJ lameness was found to be lower in horses with mild sclerosis than moderate or severe instances throughout their training period.
Conclusion
- The proposed grading system worked to quantify radiographic sclerosis, which then allowed for correlation with increasing severity of sclerosis and increasing incidences of lameness.
- Further investigation is recommended to determine the degree of C3 sclerosis at which pathological changes and lameness can be expected.
Cite This Article
APA
Hopper BJ, Steel C, Richardson JL, Alexander GR, Robertson ID.
(2004).
Radiographic evaluation of sclerosis of the third carpal bone associated with exercise and the development of lameness in Standardbred racehorses.
Equine Vet J, 36(5), 441-446.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044868341 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Clinical Science, Murdoch University Veterinary Hospital, Murdoch Drive, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Carpal Bones / diagnostic imaging
- Carpal Bones / pathology
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Radiography
- Sclerosis / diagnostic imaging
- Sclerosis / pathology
- Sclerosis / veterinary
- Severity of Illness Index
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Steel C, Ahern B, Zedler S, Vallance S, Galuppo L, Richardson J, Whitton C, Young A. Comparison of Radiography and Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Third Carpal Bone Fractures in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 25;13(9).
- Johansson L, Ringmark S, Bergquist J, Skiöldebrand E, Widgren A, Jansson A. A proteomics perspective on 2 years of high-intensity training in horses: a pilot study. Sci Rep 2024 Oct 10;14(1):23684.
- Nagy A, Boros K, Dyson S. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Computed Tomographic and Radiographic Findings in the Metacarpophalangeal Joints of 40 Non-Lame Thoroughbred Yearlings. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 9;13(22).
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