[en] [en] BACKGROUND: Injuries of the sagittal groove of the proximal phalanx (P1) in equine athletes are considered to predominantly occur due to chronic bone stress overload.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the range of abnormalities that is present in the sagittal groove in a large group of horses diagnosed with sagittal groove disease (SGD) on low-field MRI.
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional.
METHODS: Medical records were searched to identify initial MRI images of horses diagnosed with SGD and these were blindly evaluated using a semi-quantitative grading scheme and novel SGD MRI classification system reflecting potential pathways of pathological progression and severity of stress injury.
RESULTS: A total of 132 limbs from 111 horses were included in the study; predominantly warmbloods competing in showjumping (n = 83) and dressage (n = 18). SGD MRI classifications were: 0 (normal, n = 0), 1 (small subchondral defect, n = 2), 2 (osseous densification, n = 28), 3 (subchondral microfissure with osseous densification, n = 7), 4 (bone oedema-like signal within the subchondral ± trabecular bone and ± subchondral microfissure or demineralisation, n = 72), 5 (incomplete macrofissure/fracture, n = 23) and 6 (complete fracture, n = 0). Classification 4c (bone oedema-like signal with demineralisation) and 5 had higher proportions in the plantar third of hindlimbs (3% and 10%, respectively) compared with forelimbs (0% and 0%, respectively). SGD classification and extent of bone oedema-like signal were not significantly different between lame (n = 116) and non-lame limbs (n = 16) (both p > 0.05). Periosteal new bone and oedema-like signal were identified (either confidently or suspected) at the dorsoproximal aspect of P1 in 25% and 39% of limbs, respectively.
MAIN LIMITATIONS: Inclusion via diagnoses in original MRI reports, variable clinical history, small size of some classification groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The presence or absence of lameness is not a dependable measure of the severity of SGD. The periosteal oedema-like signal of P1 has not previously been described in MRI of SGD and further supports the concept of bone stress injury.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Faulkner, Josephine E ; Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
Joostens, Zoé ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) ; Equitom Equine Clinic, Lummen, Belgium
Broeckx, Bart J G; Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
Vanderperren, Katrien; Department of Morphology, Imaging, Orthopaedics, Rehabilitation and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
Low-field magnetic resonance imaging of sagittal groove disease of the proximal phalanx in non-racing sport horses.
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