Left Fore Limb lameness in a 7
year-old Thoroughbred
Left Fore Limb lameness in a 7 year-old
Thoroughbred
• Patient had a mild lameness of the left front limb.
• Lameness examination included regional
analgesia and distal interphalangeal joint
injection six weeks prior to referral
• Acute, severe lameness (grade IV/V) in the same
left front limb was present shortly after lameness
examination and joint injection
• With stall rest the lameness improved, but when
allowed to exercise the severity of the lameness
returned
Primary Veterinarian Workup
• A sample of the distal interphalangeal joint
fluid was obtained and was unremarkable
• Radiography of the distal limb was
unremarkable
• Ultrasound of the palmar soft tissues revealed
a hypoechoic area associated with the
superficial digital flexor branch and scutum
laterally
Advanced Imaging
• The patient was referred for MRI of the
pastern region
MRI Left Front Pastern Region
• MRI Proton density (PD) transverse images
shown
• Distal to proximal
MRI – Sagittal Plane
• Proton Density Sagittal plane
• Lateral to medial