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