Visual lameness assessment in comparison to quantitative gait analysis data in horses

Area of Science:

• Equine orthopedics
• Veterinary biomechanics
• Clinical assessment

Background:

• Quantitative gait analysis provides objective data for lameness evaluations, improving documentation and reducing bias.
• Limited research compares subjective lameness scoring with objective gait analysis outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess agreement among veterinarians regarding lame limb identification and lameness grading.
• To examine the relationship between subjective lameness grades and quantitative gait data.
• To identify variations based on veterinarian, assessment method (live vs. video), and diagnostic analgesia response.

Main Methods:

• A clinical observational study involving 23 cases and 4 experienced equine orthopedic veterinarians.
• Kinematic data were collected and compared with subjective lameness assessments.
• Agreement was analyzed using Cohen's Kappa; asymmetry parameters were modeled against subjective grades and assessment conditions.

Main Results:

• Good agreement (κ=0.64) on identifying the lame limb between and within veterinarians, regardless of assessment method.
• Acceptable to poor agreement on lameness grade.
• A positive correlation was found between subjective lameness scores and objective asymmetry measurements.
• Significant, though minor, differences in quantitative asymmetry were noted between veterinarians and assessment conditions.

Conclusions:

• Veterinarian agreement on lame limb identification is good, but grading lameness requires further refinement.
• Quantitative gait analysis complements subjective assessments, offering objective data that correlates with clinical judgment.
• Objective data can help mitigate expectation bias, particularly after diagnostic analgesia.
• High-quality videos are suitable for documentation and education, supporting the use of objective gait analysis.