Radiographic Abnormalities in Barrel Racing Horses with Lameness Referable to the Metacarpophalangeal Joint

Barrel racing is one of the most popular uses of the American Quarter horse in North and South America. Although injury to the metacarpophalangeal joint frequently occurs in this sport, there is limited information describing the nature of these injuries. The aim of this study was to determine the most common radiographic abnormalities in barrel racing horses with lameness referable to the metacarpophalangeal joint. lameness examinations were performed on 63 barrel racing horses. Those found to be lame were subjected to radiographic examination. Lameness at trot was scored on a scale of 0-5 (0 = sound; 5 = inability to move). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis. of horses examined, 30 (47.6%) were lame with scores ranging from 1 to 4. Half of the lame horses (15 of 30) had grade 2 lameness of the right forelimb. Abnormal radiographic findings were more often present on the left forelimb and included signs of sesamoiditis (70%), villonodular synovitis (56.6%), osteoarthritis (36.6%), osteochondritis dissecans (13.3%), capsulitis (13.3%), and soft-tissue swelling (6.6%). Radiographic abnormalities indicated that sesamoiditis, villonodular synovitis, and osteoarthritis may be associated to mild-to-moderate lameness in barrel racing horses. Complementary sonographic evaluation is recommended to better characterize soft-tissue abnormalities. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Metacarpophalangeal pattern profile in Marfan syndrome and Marfan-like patients

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant trait due to mutations in the fibrillin gene (FBN1). The MFS expressivity is variable, and its diagnosis relies completely on clinical criteria. Atypical cases and Marfan- like (marfanoid) clinical presentations are commonly found. The metacarpophalangeal pattern profile (MCPP), a radiological method in which the 19 tubular hand bones are assessed, has been used in the diagnosis of various syndromes. To investigate whether the MCPP was adequate to discriminate between MFS and Marfan-like subjects, we studied 38 patients who were referred to our service because they had an MFS diagnosis, diagnostic hypothesis, or differential diagnosis or had arachnodactyly with dolichostenomelia. Two groups were formed: 1) MFS: 21 patients with a mean age of 18.3 (10.8 S.D.) years and 2) Marfan-like syndromes: 16 patients who did not meet the current criteria, with a mean age of 14.6 (4.6 S.D.) years. The MCPP was performed in each case following the classical technique, and a characteristic mean profile was obtained for group I (MFS), with Z scores ranging from 0.69 to 2.73 (1.80 ± 0.50; mean ± S.D.). In group I, three cases had no correlation with the typical MFS pattern. In group II, three cases had an MFS pattern. The correlation with the mean MCPP of MFS permitted the differential diagnosis of MFS and marfanoid syndromes with 86% sensitivity, 81% specificity, and 86% positive and 81% negative predictive values. The results suggest that MCPP can be used effectively as an auxiliary tool in the nosology of these conditions and, because there is no change in MCPP with age, can be helpful in early diagnosis.

Descrição do movimento da articulação metacarpofalangiana de equinos pela metodologia baseada em videogrametria

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização de alterações radiográficas na articulação metacarpofalângia de cavalos de três tambores

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Avaliação de parafusos bioabsorvíveis na reparação de fraturas experimentais de sesamóides em eqüinos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Avaliação da eficácia do firocoxib em comparação à fenilbutazona na sinovite induzida por lipopolissacarídeo em equinos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Efetividade da radiografia digital direta na técnica simplificada - análise da maturação óssea

Pós-graduação em Odontologia - FOAR

Análise cinematográfica tridimensional da articulação metacarpofalangiana de equinos submetidos à elevação da pinça ou talões

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Capacidade funcional em cavalos de salto suplementados com linhaça

The objective of this study was to evaluate the supplementation of linseed as an omega-3 fatty acid supplier on the functional capacity of jumping horses. 6 horses disposed in two 3 x 3 balanced Latin squares were used. The treatments consisted of increasing levels of linseed mixed with flour and linseed oil in a ratio of 75:25, respectively, resulting in 0g (control), 60g and 120g on a daily basis per horse. The horses were supplemented for 30 days. Physical activity was jumping at riding class level. The functional parameters measured were lameness index, stride length and joint metacarpophalangeal (MCP) biometry (circumference and flexion angle). A significant linseed supplementation effect for doses of 60 and 120g was observed on the lameness index. Feeding 120g of linseed increased stride length while trotting (P<0.05). An increment of 0.5cm on MCP circumference was found in horses that received the control diet when compared to those horses that consumed 120g of linseed. Thus, supplementation of jumping horses with 120g/day of linseed promoted greater stride length at a trot and reduced swelling in the metacarpophalangeal joint, improving their functional capabilities.

Farmacocinética da gentamicina em equinos: estudo comparativo das concentrações em plasma e em líquido sinovial na administração intravenosa ou intravenosa regional

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Alterações radiográficas e ultra-sonográficas iniciais em osteoartrite experimental eqüina

Avaliaram-se oito articulações metacarpofalangeanas (MCF) de eqüinos adultos pelos exames radiográfico e ultra-sonográfico após indução cirúrgica de uma instabilidade articular, para mimetizar as alterações iniciais da osteoartrite (OA) naturalmente adquirida. Foram mensurados a circunferência articular, a amplitude do movimento articular e o grau de claudicação dos membros torácicos (avaliação clínica). Dez dias após a intervenção cirúrgica os animais foram exercitados em um andador por um período de 60 dias. Os exames radiográfico e ultra-sonográfico foram realizados antes da intervenção cirúrgica e após 25, 40 e 70 dias, e a avaliação clínica, semanalmente, durante todo o período experimental. Observaram-se alterações ultra-sonográficas aos 25 dias após a instabilidade articular, enquanto as alterações radiográficas somente foram visualizadas aos 40 dias. Houve aumento significativo (P<0,05) da circunferência articular da articulação MCF operada (25,75cm± 1,1) a partir do sétimo dia, em relação à articulação controle (24,88cm± 1,0) e diminuição da amplitude do movimento da articulação operada (96,38º± 10,7) a partir do 25º dia, em relação ao seu valor basal (109,24º± 10,3) e em relação ao controle (108,75º± 8,3). O grau de claudicação aumentou significativamente (P<0,05) durante o período do estudo, com valor médio do escore de 1,5 para o membro operado em relação ao membro contralateral. em conclusão, os sinais iniciais da OA cirurgicamente induzida foram melhor e mais precocemente detectados pela ultra-sonografia quando comparado ao exame radiografico. As mensurações da circunferência articular e da amplitude do movimento articular são úteis na avaliação das doenças articulares.

Role of the oblique ligament in the integrity of the medial collateral ligament of the canine elbow joint

Foram estudados o arranjo e o diâmetro médio das fibrilas colágenas do ligamento colateral medial da articulação do cotovelo do cão, isolado ou associado ao ligamento oblíquo e tracionado até a ruptura. Dezoito articulações foram divididas em três grupos. O primeiro grupo teve o ligamento colateral medial coletado, mas não tracionado; o segundo grupo teve o ligamento colateral medial tracionado isoladamente; o terceiro grupo teve os ligamentos colateral medial e oblíquo tracionados associadamente. O ligamento colateral medial não submetido ao ensaio de tração apresentou um padrão ondulado das fibras colágenas, o qual não foi totalmente destruído quando foi tracionado, associado ao ligamento oblíquo, e perdeu totalmente o padrão reticular das fibras colágenas quando testado isoladamente. Quando o ligamento colateral medial foi submetido à tensão isoladamente, o diâmetro médio das fibrilas colágenas aumentou em relação ao grupo não submetido à tensão. Associado ao ligamento oblíquo, o diâmetro médio das fibrilas colágenas foi o maior na região de inserção e o menor na região média, em relação aos outros grupos. Concluiu-se que o ligamento oblíquo pode favorecer a integridade da região de inserção do ligamento colateral medial, aumentando a eficácia de sua reconstrução após a lesão.

Study on the bone mineral density of broiler suffering femoral joint degenerative lesions

An experiment was carried out with male and females broilers of two different commercial breeds to evaluate bone mineral density of the right femur head. A number of 600 one-day-old broilers were raised in an experimental poultry house up to 42 days of age at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil. After slaughter, three males and three females in each breed in each of the established gross scores were selected. Their femora heads were submitted to gross examination, and subsequently the thighs were submitted to the Veterinary Hospital for radiographic analysis. Femora were also submitted to bone resistance, Seedor index, and dry matter content analyses. All these bone quality characteristics were different between males and females, independent of breed. Breeds presented similar behavior. It was possible to establish correlations between bone quality parameters, and confidence intervals for bone mineral density values, correlating them to femoral degeneration score, which allows characterizing femoral head lesions by radiographic optical densitometry.

Modeling and Experimental Aspects of Self-healing Bolted Joint through Shape Memory Alloy Actuators

Bolted joints are a form of mechanical coupling largely used in machinery due to their reliability and low cost. Failure of bolted joints can lead to catastrophic events, such as leaking, train derailments, aircraft crashes, etc. Most of these failures occur due to the reduction of the pre-load, induced by mechanical vibration or human errors in the assembly or maintenance process. This article investigates the application of shape memory alloy (SMA) washers as an actuator to increase the pre-load on loosened bolted joints. The application of SMA washer follows a structural health monitoring procedure to identify a damage (reduction in pre-load) occurrence. In this article, a thermo-mechanical model is presented to predict the final pre-load achieved using this kind of actuator, based on the heat input and SMA washer dimension. This model extends and improves on the previous model of Ghorashi and Inman [2004, "Shape Memory Alloy in Tension and Compression and its Application as Clamping Force Actuator in a Bolted Joint: Part 2 - Modeling," J. Intell. Mater. Syst. Struct., 15:589-600], by eliminating the pre-load term related to nut turning making the system more practical. This complete model is a powerful but complex tool to be used by designers. A novel modeling approach for self-healing bolted joints based on curve fitting of experimental data is presented. The article concludes with an experimental application that leads to a change in joint assembly to increase the system reliability, by removing the ceramic washer component. Further research topics are also suggested.

Radiographic measurement of tibial joint angles in sheep

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)