Naslov
Influence of body condition on ultrasonographic evaluation of selected stifle structures in non-lame horses

Autori
Brkljača Bottegaro, Nika ; Selanec, Jelena ; Bačani, Eleonora ; Smolec, Ozren ; Grden, Darko ; Kos, Josip

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, stručni

Izvornik
XX SIVE international congress Milano, 7 th -9 th February 2014 / - Milano, 2014, 366-367

Skup
XX SIVE international congress

Mjesto i datum
Milano, Italija, 07.02.2014. - 09.02.2014

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Poster

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
horse; body condition score; stifle; ultrasound

Sažetak
Purpose of the work. A remarkable proportion of stifle lameness in horses is associated with soft tissue damage. The method of choice for assessing soft tissue injury in a standing horse is ultraso- nography, however it require a good-quality ultrasound scaner with both sector and linear array transducers. The aim of this study was to investigate whether body condition of horses affects the ability to visualize selected stifle structure using just a linear transducer, due to frequent lacking of sector transducer in the field work. In practice the authors have experienced inferior quality ultra- sound images in fat and brawny horses, but no particular data confirming this thesis was found in the literature. Materials and used methods. The study was conducted on 30 horses of different breeds without cli- nical signs of lameness or pathological changes in the stifles. Their body condition was assessed by Henneke system with a scale from one to nine. Ultrasound examination of both stifle joints compri- sed review of patellar and collateral ligaments and meniscus. The visualization of certain structu- res in both transverse and longitudinal plane within 10 minutes per structure was considered a po- sitive result. The obtained data were statistically analyzed to determine the interconnection para- meters of body condition and visualization of selected anatomical structures. Outcomes. Middle and medial patellar ligaments were visualized in all examined horses. Both la- teral patellar ligaments were not visualized just in one horse with score 8 of body condition. In 46.67% of horses the lateral collateral ligaments were not visualized, unlike the medial collateral ligament that was not vizualized in just 16, 67% of horses. The right lateral meniscus was not visi- ble in 36.67% and the left lateral meniscus in 33, 33% of horses. None of these horses had body con- dition graded less than 5. The right medial meniscus was not visualized in 10% and left medial me- niscus in 6, 67% of horses, all horses with body condition score from 6 to 8. Statistically significant negative correlation (p <0.05) was found between the body condition and visualization of the late- ral collateral ligament and lateral meniscus of both legs. Conclusions. Good visualisation of both middle and medial patellar ligaments, regardless body condition score, was attributed to their position directly under the skin, particularly on the medial part of the stifle where the skin is thinner. Lateral collateral ligaments were not visualised in almost half of the horses, all of them with body condition score above 4, therefore we conclude that body condition score could influence visualisation of this anatomical structure. The lateral collateral li- gament is best visualized with a sector transducer due to better penetration through thicker skin and biceps femoris muscle. Successful visualisation of medial meniscus in majority of horses suggested that this anatomical structure can be visualized even in horses with high body condition score, which can have significant effect in clinical diagnostic due to the fact that the medial meniscus is the one mostly affected by pathological changes. The results of this study suggest that body condi- tion affects the ultrasound visualisation of lateral collateral ligament and lateral meniscus, there- fore it is more demanding to make a quality ultrasonographic scan on lateral stifle structure on hor- ses with high body condition score.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA