Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Use of magnetic resonance imaging identify suspensory desmitis and adhesions between exostoses of the second metacarpal bone and the suspensory ligament in four horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2004
- Authors:
- Zubrod, Chad J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Four horses were brought in because they were limping in their front legs for a long time. After a thorough examination and some tests, it was found that a small bony growth on the second metacarpal bone (a bone in the leg) was causing the problem. Advanced imaging showed that all four horses had inflammation of the suspensory ligament (a ligament that supports the leg) and also revealed that there were adhesions, or abnormal connections, between the bony growth and the ligament. During surgery, the veterinarians cut these adhesions and removed the bony growth. After a six-month recovery and rehabilitation period, all the horses were able to return to their previous activities without any issues.
Abstract
Four horses were examined because of chronic forelimb lameness. In all horses, the cause of the lameness was localized to the metacarpus by means of physical examination and diagnostic anesthesia, and radiography of the affected limb revealed a small exostosis of the second metacarpal bone. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed suspensory desmitis in the region of this exostosis in all 4 horses. In addition, an abnormal area of low signal intensity, suggestive of an adhesion, was seen between the exostosis and the suspensory ligament. In all horses, an adhesion between the suspensory ligament and the exostosis on the second metacarpal bone was identified and transected at surgery, and the exostosis and distal portion of the second metacarpal bone were removed. All horses were able to return to their previous athletic use following a 6-month rest and rehabilitation program for treatment of the suspensory desmitis. Findings in these horses suggest that adhesions between the suspensory ligament and an exostosis of the second metacarpal bone may be a cause of chronic or recurrent forelimb lameness in horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15198268/