The effect of hoof angle variations on dorsal lamellar load in the equine hoof.
Abstract: In the treatment of laminitis it is believed that reducing tension in the deep digital flexor tendon by raising the palmar angle of the hoof can reduce the load on the dorsal lamellae, allowing them to heal or prevent further damage. Objective: To determine the effect of alterations in hoof angle on the load in the dorsal laminar junction. Methods: Biomechanical finite element models of equine hooves were created with palmar angles of the distal phalanx varying from 0-15°. Tissue material relations accounting for anisotropy and the effect of moisture were used. Loading conditions simulating the stages in the stance where the vertical ground reaction force, midstance joint moment and breakover joint moment were maximal, were applied to the models. The loads were adjusted to account for the reduction in joint moment caused by increasing the palmar angle. Models were compared using the stored elastic energy, an indication of load, which was sampled in the dorsal laminar junction. Results: For all loading cases, increasing the palmar angle increased the stored elastic energy in the dorsal laminar junction. The stored elastic energy near the proximal laminar junction border for a palmar angle of 15° was between 1.3 and 3.8 times that for a palmar angle of 0°. Stored elastic energy at the distal laminar junction border was small in all cases. For the breakover case, stored elastic energy at the proximal border also increased with increasing palmar angle. Conclusions: The models in this study predict that raising the palmar angle increases the load on the dorsal laminar junction. Therefore, hoof care interventions that raise the palmar angle in order to reduce the dorsal lamellae load may not achieve this outcome.
© 2011 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-03-11 PubMed ID: 21496082DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00319.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates how variations in horse hoof angle impact the load on the dorsal lamellar junction within the hoof. Contrary to common belief, the study suggests that increasing the palmar angle might heighten, rather than lessen, the load on the junction and potentially cause more damage to a hoof already struck with laminitis.
Research Objective
The main aim of this investigation was to decode the effect of changing the palmar angle on the load borne by the dorsal laminar junction in a horse’s hoof. This is crucial to assess the existing belief that raising the palmar angle can reduce stress on this area and facilitate the healing of an inflamed hoof caused by laminitis.
Methods
- The research used biomechanical finite element models of horse hooves. This involved intricate mathematical techniques for computer-based simulations that help portray the physical properties of an object, here, the horse’s hoof.
- These models varied in the palmar angles of the distal phalanx from 0 to 15 degrees.
- They factored in tissue material relations, accounting for characteristics like anisotropy and the effect of moisture on the hoof.
- The models were subjected to conditions simulating different stages in a horse’s stance which included maximum force, joint moment at midstance, and breakover joint moment.
- The loads for each situation were adjusted to account for the alteration in the joint moment resulting from increasing the palmar angle.
Results
- Irrespective of the loading case, enhancing the palmar angle escalated the stored elastic energy, indicating increased load, in the dorsal laminar junction.
- Higher palmar angles were associated with greater stored elastic energy in the proximal and distal laminar junction.
- The breakover case revealed that stored elastic energy near the proximal border also increased with the palmar angle.
Conclusion
- The study forecasts that raising the palmar angle contributes to an increased load on the dorsal laminar junction.
- It calls into question methods of hoof care that suggest increasing the palmar angle to ease the load on the dorsal lamellae, indicating they may not be effective as previously thought.
Cite This Article
APA
Ramsey GD, Hunter PJ, Nash MP.
(2011).
The effect of hoof angle variations on dorsal lamellar load in the equine hoof.
Equine Vet J, 43(5), 536-542.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00319.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute and Department of Engineering Science, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. g.ramsey@auckland.ac.nz
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Computer Simulation
- Hoof and Claw / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Models, Biological
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Steelman SM, Chowdhary BP. Plasma proteomics shows an elevation of the anti-inflammatory protein APOA-IV in chronic equine laminitis.. BMC Vet Res 2012 Sep 27;8:179.
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