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Published on: August 2, 2024
The relationship between morphometric measurements and radiographic changes associated with distal interphalangeal
Ahmed Ibrahim El-Marakby1, Mohamed Barakat Mostafa2, Ahmed Sayed Soliman1
1Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, P.O. Box: 12211, Giza, Egypt.
Background:
Flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint is a common condition in both working and non-working donkeys, arising from congenital or acquired causes, or as a secondary consequence of trauma or chronic lameness. The deformity results in abnormal weight distribution on the hoof. Although radiography is essential for identifying osseous and articular abnormalities, few studies have documented the morphometric and radiographic changes associated with DIP joint flexural deformity in donkeys. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between morphometric parameters and radiographic findings in donkeys with DIP joint flexural deformity. Twenty-three forefeet with DIP joint flexural deformity were collected from Egyptian donkeys. Lateral photographic evaluation was used to assess morphometric parameters, including toe length (TL), toe angle (TA), heel length (HL), heel angle (HA), coronet length (CL), coronary band angle (CBA), dorsal coronary band height (DCBH), palmar coronary band height (PCBH), hoof base of support (HBS), foot base of support (FBS), hoof pastern axis (HPA), base of support difference (FBS-HBS), and toe-heel angle difference (TA-HA). The following ratios were also determined: toe - to - heel length ratio (TL: HL), height index (HI), dorsal coronary band height to hoof base of support ratio (DCBH: HBS), and toe length to hoof base of support ratio (TL: HBS). Lateromedial (LM) and dorsopalmar (DP) radiographic views were obtained to identify radiographic abnormalities.
Results:
Radiographic changes included osteolytic lesions affecting the solar and dorsal aspects of the third phalanx (P3), with additional abnormalities observed in the second phalanx (P2), the navicular bone, the collateral ligaments of the DIP joint, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the DIP joint, and exostosis of P3. Regarding morphometric parameters, TA, HA, and PCBH were increased, whereas most linear and angular parameters - including TL, HL, coronary band measures, HBS, HPA, and HI - were decreased.
Conclusions:
The results reveal correlations between morphometric parameters and radiographic findings in hoof capsule structures, which should be considered during the management of DIP joint flexural deformity in donkeys.
