Evaluation of computed tomographic anatomy of the foot in Jeju horses

Foot diseases are common causes of lameness in horses. Computed tomography (CT) is a valuable tool for diagnosing musculoskeletal lesions in horses and providing a detailed evaluation of foot diseases.

The objective of this study was to establish reference ranges related to the feet of normal Jeju horses by measuring the angles and length of the hoof, and the Hounsfield Unit (HU) value of soft tissues in the foot.

Sixteen normal Jeju horses (mean age: 4.25 years; mean body weight: 282.06 kg) without lameness were examined using CT. After CT scanning, the angles and lengths of the hoof, such as hoof width and dorsal hoof wall angle, and the HU values of the soft tissues, such as the deep digital flexor tendon, were measured.

We identified significant differences in the HU values of overall soft tissues between the forelimbs and hindlimbs, and between the medial and lateral parts (p < 0.05). Length measurements showed no differences between left and right limbs or between medial and lateral parts, but significant fore-hind differences were found in most parameters (p < 0.05). Angle measurements revealed significant differences between left and right limbs and between fore- and hindlimbs, with an additional medial-lateral difference in the left hindlimb (p < 0.05).

The CT-based reference values established in this study provide valuable breed-specific data that may support assessment of hoof conformation and interpretation of CT findings in Jeju horses.