title: RADIOGRAPHIC AND ANATOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DORSAL HOOF WALL LAYERS IN NONLAMINITIC HORSES.
abstract: Early radiographic diagnosis of acute laminitis is important for treatment planning and prognosis in horses. While four histopathologic layers make up the hoof wall, only two layers are distinguished on digital radiographs of horses' hooves. Objectives of this descriptive study were to determine which macroscopic layers correspond to the two radiographically visible layers, and to describe radiographic layer measurements in a group of clinically sound Warmblood horses. Twelve ex vivo equine hooves were examined at three different levels of the dorsal hoof wall. The four macroscopic layers were variably grouped and compared with radiographic layers. Stratum externum and stratum medium represented the superficial radiographic layer while stratum internum and dermis parietis represented the deep layer. In 27 clinically sound horses (54 thoracic feet), the superficial radiographic layer represented 64.3% ± 3.6% of the total dorsal hoof wall. Findings from this study provided baseline information for future studies of horses with acute laminitis.
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olive
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rossier
authors.affiliation: Département de Sciences Cliniques, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beauchamp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002102:Cadaver; D005552:Forelimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: equine; hoof wall; horse; laminitis