The prognosis for return to athletic function for Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong with injuries to the palmaroproximal aspect of the metacarpus diagnosed using low-field magnetic resonance imaging.
Abstract: To evaluate and compare the prognosis for Thoroughbred racehorses to return to galloping and racing with injuries to the palmaroproximal metacarpus diagnosed with MRI. Methods: 29 flat racing Thoroughbreds at the Hong Kong Jockey Club that underwent MRI between 2014 and 2022. Methods: Clinical, radiographic, ultrasonographic, and MRI reports were collected from veterinary clinical records, and these were combined with training and racing data. Horses were categorized on the basis of MRI diagnosis: (1) proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) involvement only, (2) PSL and concurrent proximal third metacarpal (MC3) bone involvement, and (3) proximal MC3 bone involvement only. The following were compared for prognosis for return to athletic function: return to galloping or racing, and reinjury. Results: Overall, the prognosis for return to athletic function was fair, with 92% (22/24; P = .53) and 67% (16/24; P = .73) of horses returning to galloping and racing, respectively. There was a relatively low reinjury rate, with 18% (4/22) of horses reinjuring. Horses with concurrent injury to both the PSL and proximal MC3 bone (Category 2) took longer to return to gallop (median, 116; IQR, 100.5 to 160), when compared with horses having only PSL injury (median, 69; IQR, 43 to 80; P = .04). Of the 4 horses that reinjured, 3 (75%) were horses in Category 2. Conclusions: The findings from this study suggest that injuries involving both PSL and proximal MC3 bone concurrently require a longer rehabilitation period than those with PSL involvement alone.
Publication Date: 2023-12-22 PubMed ID: 38134452DOI: 10.2460/javma.23.08.0442Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study investigates the prognosis for Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong returning to athletic function following injuries to the palmaroproximal metacarpus, diagnosed using MRI methods. The findings show that return to function is generally good, although horses with joint injuries may require a longer rehabilitation period.
Research methods
- The research was conducted by studying 29 Thoroughbred horses that participate in flat racing at the Hong Kong Jockey Club, and who underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) between 2014 and 2022.
- The horses were categorized according to their MRI diagnosis into three groups: those with an injury to the proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) only, those with both PSL and concurrent proximal third metacarpal (MC3) bone involvement, and those with proximal MC3 bone involvement alone.
- The team collected and analyzed clinical, radiographic, ultrasonographic, and MRI reports from veterinary clinical records, combined with training and racing data of the horses.
- The prognosis for the horses’ return to athletic function, return to galloping or racing, and reinjury were all considered and compared among the categories.
Research findings
- Overall, the prognosis for return to athletic function was reasonable, with 92% and 67% of horses returning to galloping and racing, respectively.
- The rate of reinjury was comparatively low, with only 18% of the horses suffering from this.
- The length of time to return to gallop was more for horses with a concurrent injury to both the PSL and proximal MC3 bone, compared to those with just PSL injury. The median time was found to be 116 days for the prior and 69 days for the latter.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that while the prognosis for return to racing is generally good, horses with injuries involving both PSL and proximal MC3 bone concurrently may require a longer period of rehabilitation compared to those with just PSL injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Ratcliffe TOC, Robinson P, Rosanowski SM.
(2023).
The prognosis for return to athletic function for Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong with injuries to the palmaroproximal aspect of the metacarpus diagnosed using low-field magnetic resonance imaging.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.23.08.0442 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1Veterinary Clinical Services, Equine Hospital, Hong Kong Jockey Club, Hong Kong SAR.
- 2Ashby Equine, Bargara, QLD, Australia.
- 3Digital Agriculture, Grasslands Research Center, AgResearch Limited, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
- 4Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC, Australia.
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