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Equine veterinary journal2019; 51(6); 720-726; doi: 10.1111/evj.13086

Solar angle of the distal phalanx is associated with scintigraphic evidence of subchondral bone injury in the palmar/plantar aspect of the third metacarpal/tarsal condyles in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Subchondral bone injury at the palmar/plantar aspect of the condyles of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone (MC/MT3) commonly causes lameness and poor performance in racehorses. Injury occurs due to repetitive loading, the magnitude of which may be influenced by the position of the distal phalanx relative to the ground surface, i.e. the solar angle. The association of solar angle and injury at the palmar/plantar condyles of distal MC/MT3 therefore warrants investigation. Objective: Investigate the relationship between solar angle and radiopharmaceutical uptake at the palmar/plantar aspect of distal MC/MT3 on scintigraphic images of racehorses. Methods: Retrospective case-controlled study. Methods: Scintigraphic images of Thoroughbred racehorses presented for poor performance or lameness were graded for intensity of radiopharmaceutical uptake in the palmar/plantar aspect of distal MC/MT3. Solar angle was graded (positive, neutral or negative), referring to the angle of the solar plane of the distal phalanx relative to the ground surface. Repeatability of solar angle (n = 1226 limbs) and agreement with objective radiographic evaluation (n = 52 limbs) were evaluated. Prescintigraphy performance data were collected from race records. Associations between solar angle, performance and radiopharmaceutical uptake were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Repeatability of scintigraphic solar angle grading (κ = 0.89, 95% CI 0.87-0.91) and agreement of scintigraphic and radiographic solar angle (κ = 0.88, 95% CI 0.75-0.97) were excellent. Horses that performed best prior to presentation were more likely to have both greater radiopharmaceutical uptake and a neutral/negative solar angle. When controlling for prior performance, horses with neutral/negative forelimb solar angle were twice as likely to have moderate/marked radiopharmaceutical uptake than horses with positive solar angle (P<0.02). Horses with negative hindlimb solar angle were six times more likely to have moderate/marked radiopharmaceutical uptake than horses with positive/neutral solar angle (P<0.001). Conclusions: Population bias due to preselected hospital population. Conclusions: Both solar angle and race performance are independently associated with increased bone activity in the palmar/plantar aspect of the third metacarpal/tarsal condyles. The Summary is available in Portuguese - see Supporting Information.
© 2019 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-03-19 PubMed ID: 30793363DOI: 10.1111/evj.13086Google 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.

The research explored the relationship between the angle of the horse’s hoof in relation to the ground (the solar angle) and bone injuries in the condyles of racehorses’ metacarpal/metatarsal bones, which are a common cause of lameness and poor performance. The study concluded that an independently significant association existed between solar angle, race performance, and increased bone activity, potentially causing injury.

Objective and Methods

  • The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the position of the hoof (solar angle) and bone injury as indicated by uptake of radiotracers in a type of medical imaging technique (scintigraphy).
  • The method involved retrospective analysis of scintigraphic images of Thoroughbred racehorses that were presented for lameness or poor performance.
  • The intensity of radiotracer uptake in the area of interest (the distal metacarpal/metatarsal bone) was graded. This uptake indicates areas of bone remodeling or injury.
  • Simultaneously, the solar angle of the hoof was graded as positive, neutral, or negative.
  • The researchers cross-checked their grading method’s repeatability and agreement with objective radiographic evaluation.
  • Pre-scintigraphy performance data of the horses was also collected from race records.

Results

  • The repeatability of grading the solar angle based on scintigraphy was excellent, and there was strong agreement between scintigraphic and radiographic evaluations.
  • The best-performing horses, prior to being presented for examination, were more likely to exhibit increased radioactive tracer uptake, suggesting bone remodeling or injury.
  • Interestingly, these top performers were also more likely to have a neutral or negative solar angle.
  • When the effect of prior performance was controlled, horses with a neutral/negative front hoof angle were twice as likely, and horses with a negative rear hoof angle were six times more likely, to show significant radiotracer uptake, compared to horses with a positive solar angle. This indicates that certain hoof angles may predispose to injury.

Conclusions

  • The population studied may show some bias due to being a preselected hospital population.
  • Both the solar angle and a horse’s race performance independently contribute to increased bone activity in the distal metacarpal/tarsal bones, which could result in injury.

Cite This Article

APA
Walmsley EA, Jackson M, Wells-Smith L, Whitton RC. (2019). Solar angle of the distal phalanx is associated with scintigraphic evidence of subchondral bone injury in the palmar/plantar aspect of the third metacarpal/tarsal condyles in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J, 51(6), 720-726. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13086

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 51
Issue: 6
Pages: 720-726

Researcher Affiliations

Walmsley, E A
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
Jackson, M
  • Melbourne Polytechnic, Preston, Victoria, Australia.
Wells-Smith, L
  • Motion Equine Podiatry Consulting, Scone, New South Wales, Australia.
Whitton, R C
  • Equine Centre, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses / injuries
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Metacarpal Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Metacarpal Bones / injuries
  • Metatarsal Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Metatarsal Bones / injuries
  • Organotechnetium Compounds / pharmacology
  • Radionuclide Imaging / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies

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