Risk Factors for the Occurrence of Desmopathy of the Collateral Ligaments of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint in Equines – A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Desmopathy of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint (CL-DIPJ) has been increasingly relevant in equine sports medicine. However, the risk factors for the development of such desmopathy are not well established. In the literature, what has been described about it, is based on the clinical conditions observed in animals diagnosed with this disorder. Considering this scenario, the aim of this study was to verify which possible extrinsic or intrinsic risk factors may influence the occurrence of disorders in the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint in polo horses. Twenty-five horses from the same equestrian team, all competing in polo, were evaluated via ultrasonography. The outcome was defined as changes in echogenicity and/or boundaries of the CL-DIPJ of the thoracic limbs of the horses evaluated. The intrinsic factors considered in this study were age, the presence of angular deviations and gender. As extrinsic factors, the parameters taken into consideration were the handicap in which the animals played and the type of training to which these horses were previously submitted in their professional athletic career. The prevalence ratio was used to verify the association between risk factor and outcome. The result of this evaluation was considered significant when the confidence interval value did not involve the value 1. Positive and significant association was observed only for age. Playing in different handicaps did not influence the presence of ligament disorders. The other factors evaluated revealed a positive but not significant association. Thus, it was concluded that animals aged nine years or older present a higher risk of CL-DIPJ disorders.

Health of Polo Horses

“…Stress-related ligament and tendon injuries in polo occur not only in the superficial flexor tendon but also in the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joints. Polo horses over nine years of age have an increased risk of collateral ligament disease of the distal interphalangeal joints [ 39 ]. Joint diseases, especially osteoarthritis, are also a common cause of lameness in polo horses.…”