Variation in foot conformation in lame horses with different foot lesions.

The research article seeks to understand the relationship between foot conformation (the shape and structure of the foot) and different types of foot lesions in horses. The study observes that foot conformation differs significantly between various lesion groups, and the shape of the foot may change due to lameness, but it doesn’t establish foot conformation as the direct cause.

Study Objective and Hypothesis

• The study aims to investigate the connection between the foot conformation of horses and different types of foot lesions often associated with lameness.
• The researchers hypothesised that the parameters of conformation vary significantly among different types of foot lesions.

Methodology

• The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging to measure the conformation parameters on the mid-sagittal plane of 179 horses noted to be suffering from lameness.
• The studied horses had varying types of foot lesions, including lesions of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), navicular bone (NB), collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joints, among others.

Findings

• The study found significant differences in foot conformation between different lesion groups.
• It was observed that a larger sole angle was associated with combined DDFT and NB lesions, but not with NB lesions alone.
• In contrast, a more acute angle of the DDFT around the NB was linked with both DDFT and NB lesions. A lower heel height index was associated with DDFT injuries.
• The study also found that the larger the sole angle, the smaller the likelihood of a DDFT or NB lesion. The odds ratios were calculated to be 0.86 and 0.90, respectively.

Limitations and Future Scope

• Although the study establishes a connection between foot conformation and foot lesions in horses, it doesn’t identify foot conformation as the definitive cause of the lesions.
• The researchers noted the possibility of the conformation of a horse’s foot changing due to lameness. It is these changes that the study observes, thus making it difficult to attribute the lesions directly to foot conformation.
• Future studies aim to investigate the interaction between the foot and the surface amongst both sound horses and lame horses. The goal is to find potential preventive and therapeutic treatments for lameness in horses as a result of foot lesions.