Lesion Distribution in the Metacarpophalangeal and Metatarsophalangeal Region of 341 Horses Using Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging
by
, , ,
Stefano Schiavo
1,*,†,
Francesca Beccati
2
,
Rachel Pokora
1,
Szu Ting Lin
3,
Rebecca C. Milmine
4,
Lars Bak
5,
Vanessa G. Peter
1 and
Rachel C. Murray
1,* 1
Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons, Cotton End Rd, Exning, Newmarket CB8 7NN, UK
2
Sports Horse Research Centre, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
3
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Rd, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
4
Dubai Equine Hospital, Dubai P.O. Box 9373, United Arab Emirates
5
Høejgård Equine Hospital, 8270 Højbjerg, Denmark
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Current address: Equitom Equine Clinic, Paalstraat 8, 3560 Lummen, Belgium.
Animals 2024, 14(13), 1866; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14131866
Submission received: 29 April 2024
/
Revised: 14 June 2024
/
Accepted: 21 June 2024
/
Published: 25 June 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diagnostic Imaging in Equine Lameness Diagnosis—Where Are We in 2024?)
Simple Summary
Pathologies in the metacarpophalangeal (MCP)/metatarsophalangeal (MTP) region are a frequent cause of lameness in mature sport horses, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of these regions is increasingly being acquired. The aims of this study were to describe ranges of abnormalities identified on standing MRI of the MCP/MTP region and compare patterns of abnormalities between forelimbs, hindlimbs, and different sports disciplines. MRI reports of 341 horses with lameness localised to the MCP/MTP region were reviewed. Joint and bone injuries were frequently identified with subchondral bone plate pathology, sclerosis and hyperintense signal on STIR sequences often reported. Medial pathology was more commonly identified in the forelimbs and lateral pathology in the hindlimbs, which potentially reflect differences in loading patterns. Significant differences in MRI findings were found between horses doing different sports activities, with reports from racing and endurance horses showing more bone pathology, while dressage and show jumping horses were frequently reported to have soft tissue injuries. Being aware of the type of abnormalities associated with particular sports could be useful for planning image acquisition and when interpreting MRI findings. Further investigation into associations between different types of pathology and particular clinical presentations, blocking patterns, and performance outcomes would be interesting.
Abstract
Pain localised to the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) region represents a frequent cause of lameness in sport horses, and standing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of these regions is increasingly being acquired. This multicentre retrospective study describes the ranges of abnormalities identified on standing MRI of the MCP/MTP region and compares patterns of abnormalities between forelimbs, hindlimbs and different sports disciplines. In total, 341 MRI reports were reviewed. Subchondral bone plate irregularities, condylar and proximal phalanx pathologies were frequently identified with subchondral bone defect, sclerosis and increased intensity on STIR images often described. Medial pathology was frequently identified in the forelimbs, and more lateral pathology was reported in the hindlimbs, which could potentially reflect differences in the loading patterns. Significant differences in MRI findings were found between different sports activities, with MCP/MTP bone pathology occurring more frequently in MRI reports from race and endurance horses and MCP/MTP soft tissue injuries being reported more frequently in dressage and show-jumping horses, particularly in the suspensory apparatus, including the distal sesamoidean ligaments. The findings of this study identify patterns of MCP/MTP abnormalities detected using standing MRI, with differences seen between forelimbs and hindlimbs and between different sports disciplines.
Keywords:
equine; MRI; fetlock; sport horse
