FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary surgery : VS2020; 50(1); 158-169; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13528

Ultrasonographic evaluation of the width, thickness, and length of the normal linea alba in standing and dorsal recumbent horses.

Abstract: To determine the variability in length, width, and thickness of the equine linea alba (LA) and the effect of a standing vs dorsal recumbent position on these measurements. Methods: Descriptive anatomical comparative study. Methods: Standing horses (N = 75; in 30 horses, measurements were obtained in dorsal recumbency first and repeated after horses were standing). Methods: Linea alba length was measured in standing position from xiphoid to umbilicus, and transverse ultrasonographic images were obtained at five reference points to measure LA width and thickness. In 30 horses, measurements were obtained in dorsal recumbency first and repeated after horses were standing. Results: There was wide variation in LA width and thickness between standing horses, with gradual increase from xiphoid (range, 0.14-0.64 cm) to umbilicus (range, 0.2-2.97 cm). Linea alba length in standing position was 51.09 ± 6.219 cm. Width was independent of the size of the horse; thickness and length were correlated at some reference points to height (r = 0.346-585, P < .05) and weight (r = 0.324-0.642, P < .05). Different LA shapes could be identified. In dorsal recumbency, the LA was smaller in width at all reference points (15%-23%, P < .05) and shorter (20%, P < .001) compared with standing. Conclusions: In addition to the wide variability in LA measurements and shapes between horses, there was a significant decrease in LA width and length when horses changed from standing to dorsal recumbency. Conclusions: The difference in LA length and width between dorsal recumbency and when standing could increase tension on sutures after laparotomy and should be taken into account when surgeons are closing the abdomen.
© 2020 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-10-12 PubMed ID: 33043994DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13528Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 investigated the anatomical features of the equine linea alba (LA), a structure in the abdominal area of horses, and its variability in measurement among horses and when horses change their positions from standing to lying on their backs, or dorsal recumbency. The study found that the LA’s width and length decrease when horses lay on their backs, which might create tension on stitches after abdominal surgery.

Objective and Methodology

  • The primary aim of the research was to observe the variations in the length, width, and thickness of the equine linea alba (LA), a fibrous structure in the horse’s abdomen, and the effect of different positions (standing versus lying on their back) on these measurements.
  • The study was a descriptive anatomical comparative investigation that involved 75 horses. For 30 of these horses, researchers took measurements first in dorsal recumbency (lying on their back) and repeated after they were standing.
  • The linea alba’s length was first measured while the horse was standing, from the end of the breastbone (xiphoid) to the navel (umbilicus), after which ultrasonographic images were captured at five reference points to establish the LA’s width and thickness.

Key Findings

  • There was significant variation in LA’s width and thickness among standing horses. The size gradually increased from the xiphoid end to the umbilicus.
  • In standing position, the average length of LA was 51.09 ± 6.219 cm.
  • LA’s width was not influenced by the size of the horse, but its thickness and length were correlated to some extent with the horse’s height and weight.
  • Different shapes of the LA were identified among the studied horses.
  • In dorsal recumbency, LA measurements reduced in terms of width at all reference points (15%-23%) and length (20%) compared to standing position.

Conclusions

  • Not only was there wide variability in LA measurements and shapes between horses, but the width and length of LA showed a significant decrease when horses changed position from standing to dorsal recumbency.
  • The researchers concluded that the reduction in LA length and width when horses move to dorsal recumbency might potentially increase tension on sutures after surgery. Therefore, it is recommended for surgeons performing abdominal surgeries to consider this difference in measurement when closing the abdomen.

Cite This Article

APA
Verkade ME, Suthers J, Wiemer P, Martens A, De Clercq E, Burford J. (2020). Ultrasonographic evaluation of the width, thickness, and length of the normal linea alba in standing and dorsal recumbent horses. Vet Surg, 50(1), 158-169. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13528

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 50
Issue: 1
Pages: 158-169

Researcher Affiliations

Verkade, Maria E
  • De Lingehoeve Diergeneeskunde, Lienden, the Netherlands.
  • B&W Equine Hospital, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.
Suthers, Joanna
  • B&W Equine Hospital, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom.
Wiemer, Peter
  • De Lingehoeve Diergeneeskunde, Lienden, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Martens, Ann
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
De Clercq, Eva
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Burford, John
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough, United Kingdom.

MeSH Terms

  • Abdominal Wall / anatomy & histology
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Male
  • Reference Values
  • Standing Position

References

This article includes 43 references
  1. Gibson KT, Curtis CR, Turner AS, McIlwraith CW, Aanes WA, Stashak TS. Incisional hernias in the horse incidence and predisposing factors. Vet Surg 1989;18(5):360-366.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1989.tb01100.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  2. Trostle SS, Wilson DG, Stone WC, Markel MD. A study of the biomechanical properties of the adult equine linea alba: relationship of tissue bite size and suture material to breaking strength. Vet Surg 1994;23(6):435-441.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1994.tb00504.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  3. Chism PN, Latimer FG, Patton CS, Rohrbach BW, Blackford JT. Tissue strength and wound morphology of the equine linea alba after ventral median celiotomy. Vet Surg 2000;29(2):145-151.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2000.00145.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  4. French NP, Smith J, Edwards GB, Proudman CJ. Equine surgical colic: risk factors for postoperative complications. Equine Vet J 2002;34(5):444-449.
    doi: 10.2746/042516402776117791google scholar: lookup
  5. Mair TS, Smith LJ. Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 2: short-term complications. Equine Vet J 2005;37(4):303-309.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164054529364google scholar: lookup
  6. Hassan KA, Galuppo LD, van Hoogmoed LM. An in vitro comparison of two suture intervals using braided absorbable loop suture in the equine linea alba. Vet Surg 2006;35(3):310-314.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2006.00149.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  7. Colbath AC, Patipa L, Berghaus RD, Parks AH. The influence of suture pattern on the incidence of incisional drainage following exploratory laparotomy. Equine Vet J 2014;46(2):156-160.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12091google scholar: lookup
  8. Anderson SL, Bracamonte JL, Hendrick S, Carmalt JL, Wilson DG. Ex vivo comparison of bursting strength of ventral median and right ventral paramedian celiotomies in horses. Vet Surg 2013;42(4):468-472.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.2013.12003.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  9. Fogle C. Postoperative care, complications, and reoperation of the colic patient. Equine Surgery 2019.
    doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-48420-6.00041-7google scholar: lookup
  10. Axer H, von Keyserlingk DG, Prescher A. Collagen fibers in linea alba and rectus sheaths. J Surg Res 2001;96(1):127-134.
    doi: 10.1006/jsre.2000.6070google scholar: lookup
  11. Marshall JF, Blikslager AT. Colic: diagnosis, surgical decision, preoperative management, and surgical approaches to the abdomen. Equine Surgery 2019:521-528.
    doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-48420-6.00033-8google scholar: lookup
  12. Beer GM, Schuster A, Seifert B, Manestar M, Mihic-Probst D, Weber SA. The normal width of the linea alba in nulliparous women. Clin Anat 2009;22(6):706-711.
    doi: 10.1002/ca.20836google scholar: lookup
  13. Wilson DA, Baker GJ, Boero MJ. Complications of celiotomy incisions in horses. Vet Surg 1995;24(6):506-514.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1995.tb01362.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  14. Kirker-Head CA, Kerwin PJ, Steckel RR, Rubin CT. The in vivo biodynamic properties of the intact equine linea alba. Equine Vet J 1989;21(S7):98-106.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb05666.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  15. Wilson DA, Badertscher RR, Boero MJ, Baker GJ, Foreman JH. Ultrasonographic evaluation of the healing of ventral midline abdominal incisions in the horse. Equine Vet J 1989;21(S7):107-110.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1989.tb05667.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  16. Morrisey HA, Schaeffer DJ, Freeman DE. Effect of positioning on length of ventral abdomen: relevance to abdominal closure. Equine Vet Educ 2017;29:16.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.31_12792google scholar: lookup
  17. Cooney GM, Moerman KM, Takaza M, Winter DC, Simms CK. Uniaxial and biaxial mechanical properties of porcine linea alba. J Mech Behav Biomed 2015;41:68-82.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2014.09.026google scholar: lookup
  18. Cooney GM, Lake SP, Thompson DM, Castile RM, Winter DC, Simms CK. Uniaxial and biaxial tensile stress-stretch response of human linea alba. J Mech Behav Biomed 2016;63:134-140.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2016.06.015google scholar: lookup
  19. Gräβel D, Prescher A, Fitzek S, von Keyserlingk DG, Axer H. Anisotropy of human linea alba: a biomechanical study. J Surg Res 2005;124(1):118-125.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2004.10.010google scholar: lookup
  20. Lee D, Hodges PW. Behavior of the linea alba during a curl-up task in diastasis rectus abdominis: an observational study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2016;46(7):580-899.
    doi: 10.2519/jospt.2016.6536google scholar: lookup
  21. Gillard S, Ryan CG, Stokes M, Warner M, Dixon J. Effects of posture and anatomical location on inter-recti distance measured using ultrasound imaging in parous women. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2018;34:1-7.
    doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.11.010google scholar: lookup
  22. de Almeida Mendes D, Nahas FX, Veiga DF. Ultrasonography for measuring rectus abdominis muscles diastasis. Acta Cir Bras 2007;22(3):182-186.
    doi: 10.1590/s0102-86502007000300005google scholar: lookup
  23. Liaw L, Hsu M, Liao C, Liu M, Hsu A. The relationships between inter-recti distance measured by ultrasound imaging and abdominal muscle function in postpartum women: a 6-month follow-up study. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2011;41(6):435-443.
    doi: 10.2519/jospt.2011.3507google scholar: lookup
  24. Scharner D, Gittel C, Böttcher D. Sonographie der linea alba vor und nach der laparotomie beim warmblutpferd. Pferdeheilkunde 2019;35(1):34-40.
    doi: 10.21836/pem20190105google scholar: lookup
  25. Pressanto MC, Gialletti R, Pepe M. Incisional complications postceliotomy in equine patients: can ultrasonography aid early diagnosis?. Vet Surg 2019;48(5):631-684.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.13248google scholar: lookup
  26. Henneke DR, Potter GD, Kreider JL, Yeates BF. Relationship between condition score, physical measurements and body fat percentage in mares. Equine Vet J 1983;15(4):371-372.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01826.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  27. Koo TK, Li MY. A guideline of selecting and reporting intraclass correlation coefficients for reliability research. J Chiropr Med 2016;15(2):155-163.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jcm.2016.02.012google scholar: lookup
  28. Rodriguez del Agila MM, González-Ramírez AR. Sample size calculation. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr) 2014;42(5):485-492.
    doi: 10.1016/j.aller.2013.03.008google scholar: lookup
  29. Dancey CP, Reidy J. Statistics Without Maths for Psychology. London, United Kingdom: Pearson Education; 2007.
  30. Vickers AJ. The use of percentage change from baseline as an outcome in a controlled trial is statistically inefficient: a simulation study. BMC Med Res Methodol 2001;1(1):6.
    doi: 10.1186/1471-2288-1-6google scholar: lookup
  31. Verkade ME, Ugahary F, Martens A, Wiemer P. Clinical and ultrasonographic evaluation of three suture techniques for closure of the equine linea alba. Equine Vet Educ In press.
    doi: 10.1111/eve.13109google scholar: lookup
  32. Hubbell JAE, Muir WW. Antagonism of detomidine sedation in the horse using intravenous tolazoline or atipamezole. Equine Vet J 2006;38(3):238-241.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406776866408google scholar: lookup
  33. Scott VH, Williams JM, Mudge MC, Hurcombe SD. Effect of body position on intra-abdominal pressures and abdominal perfusion pressures measured at three sites in horses anesthetized with short-term total intravenous anesthesia. Am J Vet Res 2014;75(3):301-308.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.75.3.301google scholar: lookup
  34. Mota P, Pascoal AG, Sancho F, Bø K. Test-retest and intrarater reliability of 2-dimensional ultrasound measurements of distance between rectus abdominis in women. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2012;42(11):940-946.
    doi: 10.2519/jospt.2012.4115google scholar: lookup
  35. Munsterman AS, Hanson RR. Comparison of direct and indirect methods of intra-abdominal pressure measurement in normal horses. J Vet Emerg Crit Care (San Antonio) 2009;19(6):545-553.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1476-4431.2009.00482.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  36. Robert C, Valette JP, Denoix J-M. The effects of treadmill inclination and speed on the activity of three trunk muscles in the trotting horse. Equine Vet J 2001;33(5):466-472.
    doi: 10.2746/042516401776254745google scholar: lookup
  37. Lederman E. The myth of core stability. J Bodyw Mov Ther 2010;14(1):84-98.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2009.08.001google scholar: lookup
  38. Israelsson LA, Jonsson T. Suture length to wound length ratio and healing of midline laparotomy incisions. Br J Surg 1993;80(10):1284-1286.
    doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800801020google scholar: lookup
  39. Spadavecchia C, Levionnois O, Kronen P, Andersen OK. The effects of isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration on withdrawal reflex activity evoked by repeated transcutaneous electrical stimulation in ponies. Vet J 2010;183(3):337-344.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.12.011google scholar: lookup
  40. Zsoldos RR, Kotschwar A, Kotschwar AB, Rodrigues CP, Peham CF, Licka T. Activity of the equine rectus abdominis and oblique external abdominal muscles measured by surface EMG during walk and trot on the treadmill. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010;38:523-529.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00230.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  41. Harlaar JJ, van Ramshorst GH, Nieuwenhuizen J. Small stitches with small suture distances increase laparotomy closure strength. Am J Surg 2009;198(3):392-395.
    doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2008.10.018google scholar: lookup
  42. Israelsson LA, Millbourn D. Prevention of incisional hernias: how to close a midline incision. Surg Clin North Am 2013;93(5):1027-1040.
    doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2013.06.009google scholar: lookup
  43. Millbourn D, Cengiz Y, Israelsson LA. Risk factors for wound complications in midline abdominal incisions related to the size of stitches. Hernia 2011;15(3):261-266.
    doi: 10.1007/s10029-010-0775-8google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Gaitan HM, Mudge MC, Litsky AS, Arruda AG, Gardner AK. Ex vivo biomechanical evaluation of tissue construct strength in an equine colopexy model. Vet Surg 2025 Jan;54(1):189-198.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.14117pubmed: 38975740google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,113 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.