Scintigraphic characterization of distal radial physeal closure in young Standardbred racehorses.
Abstract: A longitudinal scintigraphic and radiographic study of distal radial physeal activity in 14 Standardbred trotters was conducted to quantify and visually evaluate physeal uptake around the time of physeal closure. Initial intense 99mTc-HDP uptake was seen, followed by a rapid decrease of activity starting at a mean age of 20 months. Mean physeal to distal diaphyseal ROI and line profile ratios compared to ratios of mature horses decreased from 2.8 to 1.4 at the time of radiographic closure at 24-32 months. Ratios then gradually decreased until values of mature horses were reached at the end of the study (mean age 42 months). Visually discernible distal radial physeal activity was present with declining frequency throughout the study. This study indicates that, in the normal Standardbred trotter, there is mild distal radial physeal uptake present after radiographic evidence of physeal closure. This uptake is not likely to confound evaluation of pathologic conditions of the physeal or carpal regions.
Publication Date: 2000-04-25 PubMed ID: 10779081DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2000.tb01475.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the change in activity around the time of physeal closure in young Standardbred trotter horses, using both scintigraphic and radiographic methods. The study noted a sharp decrease in activity starting at an average age of 20 months, hinting that even after radiographic evidence of closure, a mild physeal uptake continues that doesn’t interfere with the assessment of conditions in the physeal or carpal regions.
Study Overview
- The study involved a longitudinal scintigraphic and radiographic evaluation of distal radial physeal activity in 14 young Standardbred trotter horses.
- The researchers measured and visually assessed physeal uptake around the time of physeal closure – a physiological process during growth when a gap in the bone (the growth plate or physis) fills in with solid bone.
Key Findings
- The study revealed an initial intense uptake of the isotope 99mTc-HDP in the area of the distal radial physis (the growth plate in the end of the radius bone).
- This was followed by a rapid decrease in activity, which began when the horses were around 20 months old on average.
- By using different ratio measurements (mean physeal to distal diaphyseal ROI and line profile ratios), the study showed a decrease from 2.8 to 1.4 in comparison to mature horses’ ratios at the time of radiographic closure (the point at which the physeal activity is no longer visible on x-rays) which happened between 24 to 32 months.
- After this point, the researchers observed a gradual decrease until the ratios reached those of mature horses at the end of the study, when the subjects were around 42 months old on average.
- Visual observation of distal radial physeal activity was seen less frequently during the observation period.
Implications of the Study
- This study provided evidence that in young, healthy Standardbred trotters, a mild uptake of radioactivity continues in the area of the distal radial physis even after radiographic evidence of physeal closure.
- Thus, the study concludes that this mild uptake does not likely complicate the evaluation of possible diseases or conditions in either the physeal or carpal areas.
Cite This Article
APA
Uhlhorn H, Eksell P, Carlsten J.
(2000).
Scintigraphic characterization of distal radial physeal closure in young Standardbred racehorses.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 41(2), 181-186.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2000.tb01475.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Female
- Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
- Forelimb / growth & development
- Horses / growth & development
- Male
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Radiopharmaceuticals
- Radius / diagnostic imaging
- Radius / growth & development
- Technetium Tc 99m Medronate / analogs & derivatives
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Rogers CW, Gee EK, Dittmer KE. Growth and Bone Development in the Horse: When Is a Horse Skeletally Mature?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 29;11(12).
- Strand E, Braathen LC, Hellsten MC, Huse-Olsen L, Bjornsdottir S. Radiographic closure time of appendicular growth plates in the Icelandic horse. Acta Vet Scand 2007 Jul 17;49(1):19.
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