The digital pathologies of chronic laminitis.
Abstract: This review indicates that the patient-to-patient uniqueness commonly seen in chronic laminitis represents the variable presence of the digital pathologies. Although some degree of mechanical failure is always present, the secondary metabolic and growth dysplasias, vascular pathologies, and sepsis may or may not be evident. The presence and severity of these pathologies appear to have a more significant impact on the prognosis of individual cases than does the displacement of the distal phalanx. It should be reiterated that it is often the combined presence of these individual pathologies that gives rise to the patient that is totally refractory to treatment. In the absence of these pathologies, many horses with significant displacement of the distal phalanx are not in pain and are not in need of treatment. It thus follows that a key to the improved rehabilitation of difficult patients is focusing research on the physiopathology and diagnosis of these nonmechanical problems.
Publication Date: 1999-09-03 PubMed ID: 10472120DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30153-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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The research article focuses on examining the different factors contributing to chronic laminitis in horses and the need for a focused approach to treating nonmechanical problems.
Overview of Chronic Laminitis and Its Pathologies
- The paper begins by explaining the complexity and unique presentation of chronic laminitis, a debilitating disease affecting horses. This discrete presence is the result of varying digital pathologies.
- Whilst mechanical failure is always present in laminitis, this research highlights other potential contributors including secondary metabolic and growth dysregulation, vascular irregularities, and even sepsis. These may or may not be present in every case.
Impact on Treatment and Prognosis
- The presence and extent of these pathologies significantly influence each individual case’s prognosis, often more so than the displacement of the distal phalanx (the bone inside a horse’s hoof).
- It is stressed that the diverse presence of these pathologies can result in cases that become entirely resistant to treatment.
Importance of Nonmechanical Problems
- Contrary to common belief, many horses with considerable displacement of the distal phalanx are not in pain and do not require treatment, provided they are free from additional pathologies.
- Therefore, a more efficient approach to improving rehabilitation would be to concentrate research on understanding and diagnosing these nonmechanical issues.
Conclusion
- The research concludes by asserting the importance of understanding the relationship between different pathologies and their contributions to chronic laminitis. The study argues for a more comprehensive approach to address nonmechanical issues impacting this disease
Cite This Article
APA
Grosenbaugh DA, Morgan SJ, Hood DM.
(1999).
The digital pathologies of chronic laminitis.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 15(2), 419-436.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30153-0 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Health Research and Development, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Chronic Disease
- Foot Diseases / pathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw / growth & development
- Hoof and Claw / metabolism
- Hoof and Claw / pathology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Inflammation / pathology
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Keratins / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Coyne MJ, Cousin H, Loftus JP, Johnson PJ, Belknap JK, Gradil CM, Black SJ, Alfandari D. Cloning and expression of ADAM-related metalloproteases in equine laminitis.. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2009 Jun 15;129(3-4):231-41.
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