MRI and CT diagnosis of acute desmopathy of the lateral collateral sesmoidean (navicular) ligament and long-term outcome in a horse.
Clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) findings of acute desmopathy of the lateral collateral sesmoidean (navicular) ligament (CSL) in a 13-year-old Hanoverian mare are presented. On admission to the clinic the horse showed a grade 5/6 left front-limb lameness at the walk, pain on coffin joint manipulation, and coffin joint effusion. Despite a positive palmar digital nerve block, radiographs and ultrasonography did not indicate reasons for the severe clinical signs. However, MRI revealed damage to the CSL and bone marrow oedema of the navicular bone (NB), whereas a focal bone defect of the NB at the CSL insertion zone was demonstrated best by CT. The horse was managed with complete box rest and a fibreglass cast for four weeks followed by a controlled exercise program. Follow-up examination revealed no lameness at the trot three months later and the patient had fully recovered within six months.
Kofler
J
J
Clinical Department of Horses and Small Animals, Clinic for Orthopaedics in Large Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria. Johann.Kofler@vu-wien.ac.at
Kneissl
S
S
Malleczek
D
D
D000818:Animals; D017885:Collateral Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*