title: Injury of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint diagnosed by magnetic resonance.
abstract: We describe the clinical, imaging, and necropsy findings of two horses with severe injury of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint diagnosed using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. In MR images it was possible to examine the collateral ligaments of the DIP joint from the origin at the middle phalanx to the insertion on the distal phalanx. Both horses in this report had abnormal high signal intensity within the collateral ligaments of the DIP joint, and one horse had abnormal high signal intensity within the bone of the distal phalanx on short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and T2-weighted imaging sequences. High signal intensity on STIR and T2-weighted images represents abnormal fluid accumulation indicative of inflammation, within ligament, tendon, or bone on these imaging sequences. Abnormalities were confirmed on necropsy in both horses. Injury of the collateral ligaments of the DIP joint should be considered as a source of pain in horses with lameness localized to the foot.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, PO Box 647060, Pullman, WA 99164-7060, USA. czubrod@vetmed.wsu.edu
authors.forename: Chad J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zubrod
authors.forename: Kelly D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Farnsworth
authors.forename: Russell L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Claude A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ragle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005552:Forelimb / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses / Q000293:injuries*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D014033:Toe Joint / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology