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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2020; 61(3); 336-345; doi: 10.1111/vru.12855

Standing MRI lesions of the distal interphalangeal joint and podotrochlear apparatus occur with a high frequency in warmblood horses.

Abstract: Foot pain is a common presenting complaint in Warmblood horses. The aim of this retrospective, cross-sectional study was to determine the spectrum of foot lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in Warmblood horses used for dressage, jumping, and eventing. The medical records of 550 Warmblood horses with foot pain that were scanned using standing MRI were reviewed and the following data were recorded: signalment, occupation, lameness, diagnostic analgesia, imaging results, treatments, and follow-up assessments. Associations between standing MRI lesions and chronic lameness following treatment were tested. Abnormalities of the navicular bone (409 horses, 74%), distal interphalangeal joint (362 horses, 65%), and deep digital flexor (DDF) tendon (260 horses, 47%) occurred with the highest frequency. The following abnormalities were significantly associated (P < .05) with chronic lameness following conservative therapy: moderate to severe MRI lesions in the trabecular bone of the navicular bone, mild or severe erosions of the flexor surface of the navicular bone, moderate sagittal/parasagittal DDF tendinopathies, and moderate collateral sesamoidean desmopathies. Also, identification of concurrent lesions of the DDF tendon, navicular bone, navicular bursa, and distal sesamoidean impar ligament was associated with chronic lameness after conservative therapy. Development of effective treatment options for foot lesions that respond poorly to conservative therapy is necessary.
© 2020 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2020-03-11 PubMed ID: 32162431DOI: 10.1111/vru.12855Google 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 study looks at the origin of foot pain in Warmblood horses bred for dressage, jumping, and eventing, by reviewing the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of 550 horses. It found that foot lesions, especially in the navicular bone, distal interphalangeal joint, and deep digital flexor tendon, were common and often associated with chronic lameness. The research suggests the need for improved treatment options that can effectively address foot lesions unresponsive to conservative therapy.

Research Methodology

  • The method adopted for this study was a retrospective, cross-sectional examination.
  • Researchers used existing medical records of 550 Warmblood horses that previously had foot pain and undergone MRI scans.
  • The researchers collated information regarding the horses’ specifications, their roles, lameness, diagnostic analgesia, imaging results, treatments, and follow-ups.

Findings and Analysis

  • Most of the horses examined had abnormalities in their navicular bone (74%), distal interphalangeal joint (65%), and deep digital flexor (DDF) tendon (47%).
  • These foot lesions were prevalent among horses that often displayed chronic lameness after going through conservative therapies.
  • The presence of moderate to severe lesions in the trabecular bone of the navicular bone, mild or severe erosions of the flexor surface of the navicular bone, moderate sagittal/parasagittal DDF tendinopathies, and moderate collateral sesamoidean desmopathies, were statistically significant factors associated with chronic lameness after conservative treatment.
  • Chronic lameness was also observed in cases where concurrent lesions of the DDF tendon, navicular bone, navicular bursa, and distal sesamoidean impar ligament were present.

Implications and Future Steps

  • The occurrence of these foot lesions, particularly in the navicular bone and distal interphalangeal joint, and their connection to chronic lameness indicates an area of equine health in need of more effective treatment solutions.
  • Conservative therapy was often found to be ineffective in treating these issues, leading to the chronic lameness observed in many of the horses.
  • Future research and development efforts must focus on creating treatments that deal more successfully with these foot pain and related lameness issues in Warmblood horses used for dressage, jumping, and eventing.

Cite This Article

APA
Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD, Werpy NM, Gold SJ, Olguin S, Schaeffer DJ. (2020). Standing MRI lesions of the distal interphalangeal joint and podotrochlear apparatus occur with a high frequency in warmblood horses. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 61(3), 336-345. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12855

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 61
Issue: 3
Pages: 336-345

Researcher Affiliations

Gutierrez-Nibeyro, Santiago D
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.
Werpy, Natasha M
  • Equine Diagnostic Imaging, Inc., Archer, Florida.
Gold, Sarah J
  • B.W. Furlong & Associates, Oldwick, New Jersey.
Olguin, Silvia
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, University of La Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Schaeffer, David J
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Bursa, Synovial
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Foot Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Foot Diseases / veterinary
  • Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horses
  • Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Joint Diseases / pathology
  • Joint Diseases / veterinary
  • Ligaments / diagnostic imaging
  • Ligaments / pathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
  • Pain / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tarsal Bones / diagnostic imaging
  • Tarsal Bones / pathology
  • Tendons / diagnostic imaging
  • Tendons / pathology

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This article includes 36 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 7 times.
  1. Boado A, Pollard D, Lopez-Sanroman FJ, Dyson S. Orthopaedic Injuries in 272 Dressage Horses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 14;15(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15202972pubmed: 41153899google scholar: lookup
  2. Scharf A, Acutt E, Bills K, Werpy N. Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing and managing deep digital flexor tendinopathy in equine athletes: Insights, advances and future directions. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1183-1203.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14508pubmed: 40314097google scholar: lookup
  3. Turek B, Pawlikowski M, Jankowski K, Borowska M, Skierbiszewska K, Jasiński T, Domino M. Selection of density standard and X-ray tube settings for computed digital absorptiometry in horses using the k-means clustering algorithm. BMC Vet Res 2025 Mar 13;21(1):165.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-025-04591-5pubmed: 40082938google scholar: lookup
  4. McParland TJ, Horne CR, Robertson JB, Schnabel LV, Nelson NC. Alterations to the synovial invaginations of the navicular bone are associated with pathology of both the navicular apparatus and distal interphalangeal joint when evaluated using high field MRI. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2023 Jan;64(1):9-17.
    doi: 10.1111/vru.13140pubmed: 35969227google scholar: lookup
  5. Madsen LM, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD, Stewart MC, McCoy AM, Schaeffer DJ. Kinetic Analysis in Horses With Deep Digital Flexor Tendinopathy Within the Digit Diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:893026.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.893026pubmed: 35711793google scholar: lookup
  6. Kozłowska N, Wierzbicka M, Jasiński T, Domino M. Advances in the Diagnosis of Equine Respiratory Diseases: A Review of Novel Imaging and Functional Techniques. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 4;12(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12030381pubmed: 35158704google scholar: lookup
  7. Quam VG, Altmann NN, Brokken MT, Durgam SS. Zonal characterization and differential trilineage potentials of equine intrasynovial deep digital flexor tendon-derived cells. BMC Vet Res 2021 Apr 1;17(1):138.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-02793-1pubmed: 33794882google scholar: lookup
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