Third metacarpal bone laterality asymmetry and midshaft dimensions in Thoroughbred racehorses

Abstract

In this sample of racehorses longer MC3 bones were likely to have been exposed to a greater dorsopalmar bending moment at the mid shaft that was reflected in a thicker dorsal cortex. The lack of a relationship between midshaft thickness and bone length within individual horses suggests that direct mechanical effects of conformation and environment were less important than the individual's level of skill (or the degree of laterality in their movements) developed before their exposure to fast exercise. It is likely that racehorses with longer right MC3 bones were more able to control the loading of the right MC3 than the left during fast exercise.

The analysis of densitometric and geometric parameters of bilateral proximal phalanges in horses with the use of peripheral quantitative computed tompgraphy

“…The studies confirmed the phenomenon of asymmetry regarding the femoral bones in this species [18] and the equine third metacarpal [19]. Importantly recent study found that the majority of proximal phalanx fractures in horses occur in the right leg [20].…”

Morphometrical Study of Bony Elements of the Forelimb Fetlock Joints in Horses

“…According to Watson et al. () and Davies and Watson (), the right Mc3 is longer than the left Mc3 in Thoroughbred racehorses in Victoria and South Australia, whereas Weller et al. () did not find any significant differences between the lengths of the right and left Mc3 bones of 108 National Hunt racehorses.…”

“…Some authors have taken their measurements directly from bone specimens using traditional tools such as callipers and rulers (Davis, ; Guintard and Lallemand, ; Nacambo et al., ), while others measured the lengths directly on the bones using standard field‐measurement procedures and an osteometric board (Mcfadden and Bracht, , ). Although the changes in the focus‐film and object‐film distances can lead to the magnification of the objects on the film (Curry et al., ; Walter and Davies, ), several studies have involved the use of radiographs to measure some human and animal bones (Aydinlioglu et al., ; Livshits et al., ; Watson et al., ; Davies and Watson, ; Anthenill et al., ; Dogan et al., ). Many authors photographed horses with skin markers to measure some equine joint angles and bone dimensions (Crevier‐Denoix et al., ; Anderson et al., ).…”

Associação de métodos fisioterapêuticos para o tratamento da doença metacarpiana dorsal em eqüinos

“…Fato é que a associação de diminuição da intensidade do exercício com crioterapia, fototerapia, eletroestimulação e fonoterapia permitiu que os animais permanecessem em exercício durante o período de tratamento e retornassem ao esquema de treinamento para corridas em 30 dias. É importante frisar que a velocidade e a duração do exercício (NUNAMAKER et al, 1990;BOSTON & NUNAMAKER, 2000), bem como a habilidade individual do animal em suportar exercícios de alta intensidade (DAVIES & WATSON, 2005), estão diretamente correlacionadas com o aparecimento da enfermidade e com a porcentagem de recidivas. A impossibilidade de evitar a ocorrência de uma variável não prevista no protocolo, o tipo de trabalho imposto aos animais após o tratamento, interferiu no índice de recidivas da enfermidade.…”