Abstract
This prospective study aimed to blindly compare the ultrasonographic and standing magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) findings in deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), navicular bone, and navicular bursa in horses with foot pain, positive digital analgesia, and without definitive radiographic diagnosis. Ultrasonography detected more DDFT abnormalities (32/34 feet vs. 27/34 with sMRI) but identified less palmar navicular abnormalities (23/34 feet vs. 30/34 with sMRI). In suprasesamoidean DDFT lesions, which were mainly dorsally located, changes in echogenicity did not correspond to a particular pattern of sMRI signal change. Transcuneal ultrasonography did not allow assessment of morphology and extent of distal DDFT lesions, and sporadically discriminated the affected lobe compared to sMRI. Defects of the palmar compact bone were identified with both modalities except a parasagittal defect, which was only seen at sMRI.
Highlights
Foot pain is a common cause of lameness in horses, and imaging is necessary to reach a definitive and detailed diagnosis [1].Ultrasonography is an available and cost-effective diagnostic technique allowing to assess the podotrochlear apparatus in the distal pastern, through the bulbs of the heels [2,3,4] and by transcuneal approach [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
Ultrasonographic abnormalities have been reported in horses without significant radiographic changes at the radiographic examination using both distal palmar pastern and transcuneal approaches, and ultrasonography has been suggested as a complementary modality for soft tissue assessment in the foot in cases where financial or geographical reasons impair the use of standing magnetic resonance imaging [3]
Defects of the palmar compact bone were identified with both modalities except a parasagittal defect, which was only seen at standing magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI)
Summary
Foot pain is a common cause of lameness in horses, and imaging is necessary to reach a definitive and detailed diagnosis [1].Ultrasonography is an available and cost-effective diagnostic technique allowing to assess the podotrochlear apparatus in the distal pastern, through the bulbs of the heels [2,3,4] and by transcuneal approach [5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Transcuneal ultrasonography has been compared to post-mortem for lesion detection [7] and demonstrated a good sensitivity for detection of irregularities of Equine Foot sMRI and Ultrasonography the flexor surface. It is limited by the frog conformation and hydration, and does not allow evaluation of the abaxial portions of the tendon because of the sagittal acoustic window given by the frog [5]. Ultrasonographic abnormalities have been reported in horses without significant radiographic changes at the radiographic examination using both distal palmar pastern and transcuneal approaches, and ultrasonography has been suggested as a complementary modality for soft tissue assessment in the foot in cases where financial or geographical reasons impair the use of standing magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) [3]. Ultrasonography is routinely used to guide injections in the foot area, and the use of both approaches has been described [13,14,15]
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