A 5-year-old Rheinlander gelding was evaluated for left hindlimb stifle lameness. The lameness was localised to the stifle, but source of the lameness was not specifically diagnosed from the physical, radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations. Computed tomography (CT) and CT arthrography were therefore used for further investigation since these imaging techniques image bony structures, cartilage and soft tissues.
Lameness
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal
Reasons for performing study: Previous studies have suggested that agreement between equine veterinarians subjectively evaluating lameness in horses is low. These studies were limited to small numbers of horses, evaluating movement on the treadmill or to evaluating previously-recorded videotape.
Objectives: To estimate agreement between equine practitioners performing lameness evaluations in horses in the live, over ground setting.
Journal: Veterinary Record
The presence and degree of tarsocrural joint effusion and lameness, and the result of a hindlimb flexion test were scored subjectively in 79 horses before, and six weeks to 20 months after, arthroscopic surgery to remove osteochondritis dissecans fragments. The scores of all three variables improved significantly after surgery. The score reductions for the right and left hindlimbs, respectively, were 82 per cent and 95 per cent for lameness, 48 per cent and 41 per cent for joint effusion, and 89 per cent and 84 per cent for reaction to flexion (P0·01).
Category: Endoscopic surgery - Equine - Lameness
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research
Objective—To determine whether triamcinolone acetonide diffuses from the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) to the navicular bursa, diffusion is direct or systemic, and addition of sodium hyaluronan has an effect on diffusion in horses.
Animals—11 adult horses without forelimb lameness.
Journal: American Journal of Veterinary Research
Objective—To compare the effects of intra-articular (IA) versus IV administration of morphine on local and systemic inflammatory responses in horses with experimentally induced acute synovitis.
Animals—8 horses.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal
Reasons for performing study: In horses, it has been demonstrated that suxibuzone (SBZ) has a lower gastric ulcerogenic effect than phenylbutazone (PBZ). However, no field trials have been reported comparing the efficacy of the drugs in alleviating lameness.
Objectives: To compare the therapeutic effect of SBZ to that of PBZ when administered orally in lame horses. Acceptability of both products was also compared.
Journal: Veterinary Surgery
Objective—To (1) examine the outcome in horses with osteoarthritis or intra-articular soft tissue injuries of the stifle after arthroscopic exploration and debridement and (2) to determine any imaging or surgical findings that may influence prognosis. Design—Case series. Animals—Horses (n=44) with lameness referable to the stifle, diagnosed with osteoarthritis, meniscal tears, or other intra-articular soft tissue injuries based on arthroscopic examination. Methods—Medical records of horses with stifle lameness that had arthroscopic exploration were reviewed.
Category: Endoscopic surgery - Equine - Lameness
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal
Reasons for performing study: Lameness is highly prevalent in working horses, but published reports on the associated pathological abnormalities are lacking. With over 42 million horses in developing countries and the majority used for work, lameness has major welfare implications.
Objectives: To describe the range and prevalence of pathological abnormalities associated with lameness in working horses.
Category: Epidemiology - Equine - Lameness
Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Objective—To determine clinical outcome following intrathecal injection of the podotrochlear (navicular) bursa for signs of foot pain in horses evaluated via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evaluate efficacy of corticosteroids administered with or without hyaluronate.
Design—Retrospective case series.
Animals—23 horses.
Procedures—Data collected included signalment, history, intended use, duration and severity of lameness, results of diagnostic anesthesia, radiographic abnormalities, MRI abnormalities, and outcomes for return to use.
Journal: Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound
Nuclear bone scintigraphy is commonly used in the diagnosis of sacroiliac disease in horses. The aim of the present retrospective study was to determine if there was an association between radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern and radiographic appearance of the sacroiliac region in horses. Seventy-nine horses undergoing bone scintigraphy with Tc-99 m-HDP and radiography of the pelvis because of lameness or poor performance were studied. Subjective and semiquantitative methods were used to characterize and compare radiopharmaceutical uptake between horses.
Category: Equine - Imaging - Lameness - Nuclear scintigraphy - Radiography