title: Circumferential hoof clamp method of lameness induction in the horse.
abstract: A circumferential hoof clamp method to induce controlled and reversible lameness in the forelimbs of eight horses was assessed. Peak vertical forces and vertical impulses were recorded using a force plate to verify induced lameness. Video recordings were used by blinded observers to determine subjective lameness using a 0-5 scale and any residual lameness following clamp loosening. Tightening of clamps resulted in consistent, visible lameness in the selected limbs in all horses. Lameness was confirmed by significant decreases from baseline in the peak vertical force (P <0.01). Lameness was also confirmed subjectively by elevated median scores (0 at baseline and 2 during lameness). Lameness was not immediately reversible after clamp loosening (median score 1.5), but horses were not obviously lame after clamp removal and were no different from initial baseline (median score 0.5) approximately 3 days later.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1365 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA. Electronic address: swaab002@umn.edu.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Swaab
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1365 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mendez-Angulo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1365 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Groschen
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1365 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 1365 Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA.
authors.forename: T N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Trumble
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003250:Constriction; D005260:Female; D006724:Hoof and Claw; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male
keywords: Biomechanics; Circumferential hoof clamp; Equine; Induced lameness