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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2000; 41(1); 51-61; doi: 10.1186/BF03549655

Sclerosis of the third carpal bone. A prospective study of its significance in a group of young standardbred trotters.

Abstract: To assess the significance of radiographic signs of sclerosis of the third carpal bone (C3) in young Standardbred trotters in relation to performance, lameness and bone turnover both carpi in 14 Standardbred trotters were radiographically and scintigraphically examined 6 times, from the beginning of speed training until the beginning of racing, between the mean ages of 20 and 42 months. At the end of the study 8 horses had raced in official qualifying races and 14 limbs in 11 horses had been diagnosed with carpal lameness. All horses but 2 developed sclerosis and all but one had increased bone turnover in the C3 area by scintigraphy. C3 sclerosis increased continuously over time and with increased performance. Carpal lameness was significantly associated with progression of sclerosis but in most cases sclerosis developed without concomitant signs of carpal lameness. No association between carpal lameness and increased scintigraphic uptake was found, but horses that had qualified for racing had significantly higher C3 to carpus ratio of radiopharmaceutical uptake. We conclude that there is a continuous increase in C3 radiographic sclerosis with time in young Standardbred trotters in professional training, but radiographic sclerosis appears to be of limited value as an indicator of clinical carpal disease or level of performance in Standardbred trotters. För att klargöra betydelsen av radiologisk skleros i tredje karpalbenet utvärderades bägge karpallederna hos 14 varmblodiga travhästar radiologiskt och scintigrafiskt i relation till hälta och prestation. Hästarna undersöktes 6 gånger mellan 20 och 42 månaders åider, från hastighetsträningens inledning till början av tävlingsperioden. Mot slutet av Studien hade 8 hästar kvalificerat sig för tävling, och hälta lokaliserad till mellersta karpalleden hade diagnosticerats i 14 ben på 11 hästar. Alla hästar utom 2 utvecklade radiologiska tecken tili skleros och alla hästar utom en uppvisade ökat scintigrafiskt upptag i området för tredje karpalbenet. Under Studien sågs en kontinuerlig åkning av skleros över tid och med ökande prestation. Ett signifikant samband sågs mellan hälta lokaliserad tili mellersta karpalleden och tilltagande skleros, men i de fiesta fall utvecklades skleros utan medföljande hälta. Inget samband mellan ökat scintigrafiskt upptag och hälta sågs, men hästar som kvalificerat sig för tävling hade signifikant högre scintigrafiskt upptag i området för tredje karpalbenet. Hos varmblodiga travhästar i professionell träning ses tilltagande skleros i tredje karpalbenet över tid, men Studien visar att radiologisk skleros är av begränsat värde som indikator för tidigare karpalhälta eller prestation.
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Publication Date: 2000-08-02 PubMed ID: 10920476PubMed Central: PMC7996409DOI: 10.1186/BF03549655Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This research examines the impact of sclerosis or hardening of the third carpal bone (C3) on the performance, lameness and bone turnover in young Standardbred trotters, a breed of horse frequently used in racing. The study concludes that there is a continuous increase in C3 sclerosis as the horses age and increase in performance. However, this condition does not appear to be a reliable indicator of clinical carpal disease or the performance level of the horses.

Research Methodology and Findings

  • The study was conducted with 14 Standardbred trotters beginning from their initial speed training until the start of their racing season, approximately between ages 20 and 42 months. The examinations of the horses included both radiographic and scintigraphic (nuclear imaging) procedures.
  • The results showed that all but two of the horses developed sclerosis, and all but one showed an increase in bone turnover in the C3 area. This suggests that sclerosis of C3 is common in horse breeds during training and performance increase.

Lameness and performance

  • The horses with diagnosed carpal lameness showed significant association with progression of sclerosis. Yet, in most cases, sclerosis developed without evident signs of lameness. This indicates that while sclerosis might contribute to lameness, it is not a definitive indicator.
  • No significant correlations were found between increase in scintigraphic uptake (radiopharmaceutical compound absorption during nuclear imaging) and lameness. However, those horses that qualified for racing had significant higher radiopharmaceutical uptake. This could be indicative of a higher metabolic activity or bone turnover in high-performance horses rather than being directly linked to lameness.

Conclusion

  • The study highlights the continuous increase in the sclerosis of the third carpal bone in young Standardbred trotters as they undergo training. However, the research maintains that the presence of sclerosis on its own isn’t a useful indicator of the potential for diseases like carpal lameness or an estimate of future performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Uhlhorn H, Eksell P, Sandgren B, Carlsten J. (2000). Sclerosis of the third carpal bone. A prospective study of its significance in a group of young standardbred trotters. Acta Vet Scand, 41(1), 51-61. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03549655

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 1
Pages: 51-61

Researcher Affiliations

Uhlhorn, H
  • Department of Anatomy and Histology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Henrik.Uhlhorn@ah.slu.se
Eksell, P
    Sandgren, B
      Carlsten, J

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Bone Diseases / diagnosis
        • Bone Diseases / physiopathology
        • Bone Diseases / veterinary
        • Carpus, Animal / diagnostic imaging
        • Carpus, Animal / physiopathology
        • Female
        • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
        • Horse Diseases / etiology
        • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
        • Horses
        • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
        • Lameness, Animal / etiology
        • Lameness, Animal / physiopathology
        • Male
        • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
        • Prospective Studies
        • Radiography
        • Radionuclide Imaging
        • Sclerosis / diagnosis
        • Sclerosis / physiopathology
        • Sclerosis / veterinary
        • Statistics, Nonparametric
        • Technetium Compounds

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