title: Influence of radiographically detectable orthopedic changes on racing performance in standardbred trotters.
abstract: The tarsocrural, metacarpophalangeal, and metatarsophalangeal joints of 753 Standardbred yearlings were radiographed. On the basis of radiographic findings, the horses were allotted into 4 groups. Group-1 horses had osteochondrosis in the tarsocrural joints. Group-2 horses had palmar/plantar bony fragments in the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints. Group-3 horses had radiographic changes in the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joint region, such as bony fragments located at the dorsoproximal end of the proximal phalanx, osteochondrosis of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpus/metatarsus, ununited proximoplantar tuberosity of the proximal phalanx, or nonarticular, osteolytic and productive changes in the proximal sesamoid bones. Group-4 horses did not have radiographic changes. The number of race starts and race earnings (categorized) of the horses in groups 1, 2, and 3 were compared with those of the horses in group 4, using a multivariate regression analysis. Horses in groups 1, 2, and 3 had significantly fewer starts and somewhat lower earnings compared with the horses in group 4.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Oslo.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grøndahl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engeland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001175:Arthrography / Q000662:veterinary; D001947:Breeding; D002350:Carpus, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000191:economics; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000662:veterinary*; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal; D013177:Sports; D013643:Tarsus, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology