Bone

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of microscopic subchondral bone injury in the distal metacarpi/tarsi of Thoroughbred racehorses and associations with recent and cumulative training history.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the management and outcome of limb fractures in small domestic equids treated with a modified Thomas splint-cast combination (MTSCC).

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS: Client owned horses and donkeys.

Category: Bone - Equine - Traumatology

CASE DESCRIPTION: 4 horses were examined because of signs of chronic hind limb lameness.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: 3 horses had a history of lameness for > 6 months; specific duration was unknown for 1 horse. On initial evaluation, grade 3 to 4 (on a scale from 1 to 5) hind limb lameness was present in all 4 horses. Radiography of the stifle joint of the affected limb revealed medial femoral condyle subchondral lucencies or subchondral cystic lesions (SCLs) in all 4 horses, medial femorotibial osteoarthritis in 3 horses, and medial tibial condyle SCLs in 3 horses.

Category: Bone - Epidemiology - Equine - Lameness

OBJECTIVE: To determine (1) survival to discharge of horses with radial fractures (excluding osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the radius and stress fractures); and (2) risk factors affecting survival to hospital discharge in conservative and surgically managed fractures.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series.

ANIMALS: Horses (n = 54).

Category: Bone - Equine

OBJECTIVE: To determine (1) survival to discharge of horses with radial fractures (excluding osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the radius and stress fractures); and (2) risk factors affecting survival to hospital discharge in conservative and surgically managed fractures.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series.

ANIMALS: Horses (n = 54).

Category: Bone - Equine

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the configuration of incomplete proximal fractures of the proximal phalanx (P1) in horses not used for racing and compare radiographic with computed tomography (CT) findings.

STUDY DESIGN: Historical cohort.

ANIMALS: Twenty-four horses with incomplete fractures of P1.

Category: Bone - Equine - Imaging

OBJECTIVE: Mechanical evaluation of a novel screw position used for repair in a type III distal phalanx fracture model and assessment of solar canal penetration (SCP).

STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study.

SAMPLE POPULATION: Disarticulated equine hooves (n = 24) and 24 isolated distal phalanges.

OBJECTIVE: To describe in detail the radiographic appearance of ossified ungular cartilages in horses and to evaluate the usefulness of a flexed dorsolateral-palmaromedial oblique (flexed oblique) radiographic view in evaluating the ungular cartilages.

DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

SAMPLE: Radiographs of 1,255 front feet of horses.

Category: Bone - Equine

Bone is repaired by remodelling, a process influenced by its loading environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a change in loading environment on bone remodelling by quantifying bone resorption and formation activity in the metacarpal subchondral bone in Thoroughbred racehorses. Sections of the palmar metacarpal condyles of horses in race training (n = 24) or resting from training (n = 24) were examined with light microscopy and back scattered scanning electron microscopy (BSEM).

Category: Bone - Cartilage - Equine
Authors: J.M. Holmes, M. Mirams, E.J. Mackie, R.C. Whitton
Journal: The Veterinary Journal

Bone is repaired by remodelling, a process influenced by its loading environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a change in loading environment on bone remodelling by quantifying bone resorption and formation activity in the metacarpal subchondral bone in Thoroughbred racehorses. Sections of the palmar metacarpal condyles of horses in race training (n = 24) or resting from training (n = 24) were examined with light microscopy and back scattered scanning electron microscopy (BSEM).

Category: Bone - Equine