Use of magnetic resonance imaging for identifying subchondral bone damage in horses: 11 cases (1999-2003).
Abstract: To assess the use of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for identifying subchondral bone damage in the distal limbs of horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 11 horses. Methods: Medical records of horses with lameness and subsequent evidence of subchondral bone damage as determined by MR imaging were reviewed. Severity and duration of lameness, results of diagnostic local anesthesia and diagnostic testing, surgical and necropsy findings, and treatment were recorded. Outcome was determined by follow-up information obtained from the owner or referring veterinarian. Results: Lameness was localized by physical examination and diagnostic local anesthesia. Lameness was localized to the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint in 4 horses, distal interphalangeal joint in 5 horses, and tarsocrural joint in 2 horses. The duration of lameness ranged from 2 weeks to 20 months. Magnetic resonance imaging of the affected joints revealed abnormal fluid accumulation within the subchondral bone. None of the abnormalities observed by MR imaging were detected by radiography. Subchondral bone damage was diagnosed in all horses. Arthroscopy of the affected joint was performed in 4 horses. Communication with the articular surface of the affected bone was suspected on the basis of results of MR imaging in 4 horses and was confirmed by arthroscopy in 1 horse and by necropsy in 1 horse. Conclusions: Magnetic resonance imaging was useful for providing a diagnosis when other imaging techniques did not definitively identify the cause of lameness. Subchondral bone damage was clearly identified by MR imaging and should be considered as a cause of lameness in horses in which radiographic findings are unremarkable.
Publication Date: 2004-02-10 PubMed ID: 14765802DOI: 10.2460/javma.2004.224.411Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper evaluates the effectiveness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting subchondral bone damage in horses that cause lameness. The study demonstrates that MRI was able to diagnose the bone damage that was not visible through radiograph, thus proving it a better diagnostic tool in such cases.
Background and Study Methodology
- The research conducted is retrospective in nature, carried out on 11 horses that had shown symptoms of lameness.
- The researchers used MR imaging to investigate the cause of lameness, focusing specifically on subchondral bone damage in the distal limbs (lower part of the limbs) of the horses.
- Detailed information was collected through patient records regarding the severity and duration of lameness, diagnostic test results, surgical and necropsy findings, and treatment given.
- The final outcomes were determined based on follow-ups taken from the owner or the referring veterinarian.
Results of the Study
- The lameness in the horses was localized to the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal joint (4 horses), distal interphalangeal joint (5 horses), and tarsocrural joint (2 horses).
- The duration of lameness in the studied horses ranged from 2 weeks to 20 months.
- MRI clearly identified abnormal accumulation of fluid within the subchondral bone of the affected joints.
- This subchondral bone damage was not picked up on a radiograph, indicating a diagnostic limitation of radiography.
- Upon diagnosis, arthroscopy (a procedure for diagnosing and treating joint problems) was performed on 4 horses.
- Of the horses whose MR images indicated a connection with the articular surface of the affected bone, it was confirmed by arthroscopy in one horse and necropsy (post-mortem examination) in another.
Conclusions from the Research
- The study concludes that MR imaging is a beneficial diagnostic tool for lameness in horses when radiographs do not provide conclusive results.
- It showed a clear advantage in identifying subchondral bone damage in the horses studied.
- Therefore, subchondral bone damage diagnosed by MRI should be considered as a possible cause of lameness in horses, especially when radiographs are unremarkable.
Cite This Article
APA
Zubrod CJ, Schneider RK, Tucker RL, Gavin PR, Ragle CA, Farnsworth KD.
(2004).
Use of magnetic resonance imaging for identifying subchondral bone damage in horses: 11 cases (1999-2003).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 224(3), 411-418.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.224.411 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthroscopy / veterinary
- Bone and Bones / pathology
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Female
- Forelimb
- Hindlimb
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joints / pathology
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Sanigavatee K, Poochipakorn C, Charoenchanikran P, Joongpan W, Chanda M. Z-Bar Shoeing Demonstrates Potential for Long-Term Foot Pain Management during an Exercise Training Regimen in a Show Jumping Pony with Uniaxial Palmar Pain. Case Rep Vet Med 2022;2022:8468403.
- Braucke AFGV, Frederiksen NL, Berg LC, Aarsvold S, Müller FC, Boesen MP, Lindegaard C. Identification and Quantification of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in Equine Articular Tissue. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 18;10(3).
- van Zadelhoff C, Schwarz T, Smith S, Engerand A, Taylor S. Identification of Naturally Occurring Cartilage Damage in the Equine Distal Interphalangeal Joint Using Low-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Resonance Arthrography. Front Vet Sci 2019;6:508.
- Mizobe F, Nomura M, Kato T, Nambo Y, Yamada K. Signal changes in standing magnetic resonance imaging of osseous injury at the origin of the suspensory ligament in four Thoroughbred racehorses under tiludronic acid treatment. J Equine Sci 2017;28(3):87-97.
- Smith AD, Morton AJ, Winter MD, Colahan PT, Ghivizzani S, Brown MP, Hernandez JA, Nickerson DM. MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SCORING OF AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF POST-TRAUMATIC OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE EQUINE CARPUS. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2016 Sep;57(5):502-14.
- De Zani D, Rabbogliatti V, Rabba S, Auletta L, Longo M, Zani DD. Subchondral and Osteochondral Unit Bone Damage in the Fetlock Region of Sport Horses Using Low-Field MRI: Case Series. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 2;15(23).
- Schiavo S, Beccati F, Pokora R, Lin ST, Milmine RC, Bak L, Peter VG, Murray RC. Lesion Distribution in the Metacarpophalangeal and Metatarsophalangeal Region of 341 Horses Using Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 25;14(13).
- Lin ST, Foote AK, Bolas NM, Peter VG, Pokora R, Patrick H, Sargan DR, Murray RC. Three-Dimensional Imaging and Histopathological Features of Third Metacarpal/Tarsal Parasagittal Groove and Proximal Phalanx Sagittal Groove Fissures in Thoroughbred Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 14;13(18).
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