The biomechanics of the equine foot as it pertains to farriery.

Shoes were originally applied to horses' feet to protect against excessive wear. Over the years, countless types of shoes and farriery techniques have been developed not only as a therapeutic aid to treat lameness but also to maintain or enhance functionality. The past 3 decades have provided equine veterinarians and farriers with new information relating to limb biomechanics and the effects of various farriery methods.

The use of intrathecal analgesia and contrast radiography as preoperative diagnostic methods for digital flexor tendon sheath pathology.

Reasons For Performing Study: The sensitivity of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of manica flexoria (MF) tears within the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is lower than for diagnosis of marginal tears of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Additional diagnostic tools would assist in appropriate decision making for either conservative or surgical management.

Objectives: To evaluate the improvement in lameness of horses with MF or DDFT tears following intrathecal analgesia and to assess the sensitivity and specificity of contrast radiography for the diagnosis of these tears.

Digital sheath synovial ganglion cysts in horses.

Objectives: To report the clinical features of horses with fluid-filled masses associated with the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) and outcome after surgery.

Study Design: Case series.

Animals: Horses (n=10)

Methods: Medical records of horses with fluid-filled masses associated with the DFTS were reviewed and the clinical features, diagnostic methods, treatment, histopathology, and outcome reported.

In vitro evaluation of a single injection technique for diagnostic analgesia of the proximal suspensory ligament of the equine pelvic limb.

Objective: To examine the anatomic relationship of the deep branch of the lateral plantar nerve (DBLPN) with structures of the proximal metatarsal region, and to define the anatomic location of a solution injected using a single injection technique for diagnostic analgesia of the proximal suspensory ligament (PSL).

Study Design: Descriptive study.

Animals: Cadaveric equine pelvic limbs (n=29).