The effects of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy on the ultrasonographic and histologic appearance of collagenase-induced equine forelimb suspensory ligament desmitis.
Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) may stimulate healing of desmitis in multiple species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ultrasonographic and histologic appearance of collagenase-induced suspensory ligament (SUL) desmitis in untreated ligaments and ligaments treated with ESWT in horses. Four mature horses had SUL desmitis induced in both forelimbs. Beginning 3 weeks after induction of the lesions, one ligament per horse was treated 3 times at 3-week intervals with ESWT. The percent lesion, echogenicity and fiber alignment scores of the SULs were evaluated at 3-week intervals for a total of 15 weeks. At the completion of the study, the horses were euthanized and the SULs collected, fixed and processed for histopathologic evaluation. Ultrasonography showed treated SULs had a smaller percent lesion at the maximal injury zone (p = 0.001), and the total percent lesion (p = 0.01), total fiber alignment score (p = 0.0167) and total echogenicity (p = 0.0023) were all smaller in the treated ligaments. The fiber alignment score and echogenicity were not statistically different at the maximal injury zone. The treated SULs had a more concentrated area of metachromasia associated with healing than the untreated ligaments, where metachromasia appeared more diffuse throughout the ligament. ESWT improved the rate of healing as assessed ultrasonographically.
McClure
S R
SR
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA. mcclures@iastate.edu
VanSickle
D
D
Evans
R
R
Reinertson
E L
EL
Moran
L
L
D000818:Animals; D017364:Collagenases; D005552:Forelimb; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D017364:Collagenases; C417249:collagenase 1