Left Fore Limb lameness in a 7 year-old Thoroughbred
Left Fore Limb lameness in a 7 year-old Thoroughbred
• Patient had a mild lameness of the left front limb.• Lameness examination included regional analgesia
and distal interphalangeal joint injection six weeks prior to referral
• Acute, severe lameness (grade IV/V) in the same left front limb was present shortly after lameness examination and joint injection
• With stall rest the lameness improved, but when allowed to exercise the severity of the lameness returned
Primary Veterinarian Workup
• A sample of the distal interphalangeal joint fluid was obtained and was unremarkable
• Radiography of the distal limb was unremarkable
• Ultrasound of the palmar soft tissues revealed a hypoechoic area associated with the superficial digital flexor branch and scutum laterally
Advanced Imaging
• The patient was referred for MRI of the pastern region
MRI Left Front Pastern Region
• MRI Proton density (PD) transverse images shown
• Distal to proximal
MRI – Sagittal Plane
• Proton Density Sagittal plane• Lateral to medial