Scintigraphic assessment of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses with joint pain.
Abstract: Our aims were to evaluate the pattern of radiopharmaceutical uptake in horses with lameness related to the metacarpophalangeal and/or metatarsophalangeal joint and compare the results with similar information from sound horses. It was hypothesized bthat there would be a difference in radiopharmaceutical uptake between the lame and contralateral limb in unilaterally lame horses and that there would be a difference between lame and sound horses. Nuclear scintigraphic images of 43 horses with forelimb lameness and 30 horses with hindlimb lameness were evaluated. In all horses lameness was improved by intraarticular analgesia of the joint, or by perineural analgesia of the palmar/plantar (at the junction of the proximal 3/4 and the distal 1/4 of the metacarpal/metatarsal regions) and palmar/plantar metacarpal/metatarsal nerves. All images were assessed subjectively and a quantitative image analysis was performed by drawing a vertical line profile through the center of each joint in the lateral images and using region of interest analysis in both lateral and dorsal/plantar images. Ratios of radiopharmaceutical uptake were compared for each region between lame and contralateral limbs in unilaterally lame horses and between lame and control horses. There was a significant difference in the ratio of radiopharmaceutical uptake in the proximal aspect of the proximal phalanx between lame and nonlame forelimbs in unilaterally lame horses and in both lame and contralateral limbs of lame horses compared with control horses for the regions of the distal aspect of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone and the proximal sesamoid bones. However, the profile analysis was of limited clinical value.
Publication Date: 2009-10-01 PubMed ID: 19788041DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2009.01579.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article studies the pattern of radiopharmaceutical uptake in horses experiencing lameness related to certain joints, and how it compares to a control group of sound horses. The findings suggest differences in uptake pattern between lame and control horses as well as between lame and the contralateral limb in unilaterally lame horses.
Study Objectives and Hypotheses
- The study’s primary objectives were to analyze the pattern of radiopharmaceutical uptake in horses struggling with lameness connected to the metacarpophalangeal and/or metatarsophalangeal joints. The comparisons were made against the data collected from sound, or healthy, horses.
- The researchers hypothesized that the patterns of radiopharmaceutical absorption would be different between lame and contralateral limbs in horses experiencing unilateral lameness. Another assumption was that there would be discernible differences between lame and healthy horses.
Methodology
- The research pattern included the evaluation of nuclear scintigraphic images from 43 horses with forelimb lameness and 30 with hindlimb lameness.
- All horses under examination showed improvement in terms of lameness after intraarticular analgesia of the relevant joint or perineural analgesia of the palmar/plantar metacarpal/metatarsal nerves.
- The images were assessed both subjectively and quantitatively, with the latter involving a detailed image analysis by drawing a vertical line profile through each joint’s center and using region of interest (ROI) analysis.
Key Findings
- Data analysis revealed significant differences in radiopharmaceutical uptake rates. These differences were primarily noticeable in the proximal aspect of the proximal phalanx between the lame and non-lame forelimbs in unilaterally lame horses.
- Similar differences were noted between lame and contralateral limbs of lame horses and control horses for regions of the distal aspect of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone, and the proximal sesamoid bones.
- Despite the observed differences, the profile analysis conducted as part of the study ultimately offered limited clinical value.
Cite This Article
APA
Biggi M, Dyson SJ, Murray RC.
(2009).
Scintigraphic assessment of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses with joint pain.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 50(5), 536-544.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2009.01579.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Unit of Radiology, University of Milan, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthralgia / diagnostic imaging
- Arthralgia / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnostic imaging
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / diagnostic imaging
- Metatarsophalangeal Joint / diagnostic imaging
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Spriet M, Vandenberghe F. Equine Nuclear Medicine in 2024: Use and Value of Scintigraphy and PET in Equine Lameness Diagnosis. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 28;14(17).
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