Ultrasonographic studies on the fetlock suspensory apparatus in draught horses

ABSTRACT

Suspensory injuries of the fetlock were studied ultrasonographically in 25 mixed breed draught horses. Sesamoiditis, fractures of the proximal sesamoid bones and proximal phalanx were the common radiography findings in the hard tissues. Ultrasonographic of soft tissues of the suspensory apparatus in the present study here showed multiple complicated structural injuries. The suspensory branches showed desmitis, increased in size, dystrophic calcification, tearing, and fibrous echo dense material between the branch and the skin. Desmitis of the distal sesamoidean ligament had been seen associated with fractures of proximal phalanx and fractures of the sesamoid bones. Osteoarthritis of the fetlock joints was concomitant studied in the horses. Chronic desmitis of both the straight and oblique distal sesamoidean ligaments were encountered with hypoechoic core lesions in addition with irregularity of the bone surface echoes of the PI. Moreover, there were concurrent injuries to digital flexor tendons and the suspensory ligament as well as the distal sesamoidean ligaments in draught horses. The present study showed that ultrasonographic examination was useful for assessing the profile of the suspensory apparatus abnormalities in draught horses. The characteristic abnormalities of suspensory apparatus reported in the present study showed multiple complicated disorders that would affect the prognosis of fetlock injuries