Ultrasonography of the medial palmar intercarpal ligament in the Thoroughbred: technique and normal appearance.

The research focusses on analyzing the use of ultrasonography as a non-invasive method to image the Medial Palmar Intercarpal Ligament (MPICL) in the Thoroughbred horses which might aid in the diagnosis and prognosis of lameness.

Research Objective

The primary aim of this research was to determine if the MPICL in Thoroughbred horses could be imaged using ultrasonography from the dorsal aspect of the mid-carpal joint (MCJ). The study also sought to describe the technique used and the normal appearance of the ligament under ultrasonography.

Research Methods

• The study began as a pilot study involving two cadaver carpi. In this initial phase, arthroscopy and ultrasound were applied simultaneously to each carpus, with a metallic probe specifically placed on the dorsal aspect of the ligament to highlight the position of MPICL.
• The next stage included the ultrasonographic imaging of MPICL in six pairs of carpi, followed by the dissection of the carpus to physically evaluate the ligament and understand its anatomy in relation to the ultrasound images.
• In the final stage, MPICLs of 15 Thoroughbred horses with no history of lameness specifically related to the carpus were assessed and measured using ultrasonography.

Research Findings

• The findings confirmed that the MPICL could be imaged using standard ultrasound equipment via the dorsal aspect of the MCJ.
• The ligament, including its body and its medial and lateral branches, appeared as a distinct, moderately dense granular echogenic structure at the palmar aspect of the joint, with clearly defined margins.

Conclusions

• The research confirmed that normal MPICL can be reliably imaged in Thoroughbred horses using ultrasound from the dorsal aspect of the MCJ.
• The study also revealed a wide range in the normal width of the lateral aspect of the MPICL, although there was good symmetry observed between contralateral limbs.
• The study concluded that the knowledge and findings on the normal ultrasonographic appearance of the MPICL could serve as a crucial reference for detecting pathologies using ultrasound in the future.