Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2025; 38(04): A1-A35
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1810313
PODIUM ABSTRACTS

Evaluation of Equine Distal Limb Kinematics Before and After Administration of Analgesics for Treatment of Naturally Occurring Osteoarthritis

C. F. Brown
1   Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
,
W. Menke
2   Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
,
A. Carlson
1   Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
,
S. Zhang
2   Department of Kinesiology, Recreation and Sport Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
,
E. M. Collar
1   Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
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    Introduction: Lameness affects equine distal limb kinematic patterns, but research is needed to assess kinematic pattern changes in response to treatment or as an assessment of new treatments.

    Materials and Methods: Five horses participated in a three-way crossover study with oral administration of analgesics. Objective lameness evaluations were conducted before and following treatment periods. Seventy-six retroreflective markers were placed on each horse for 3D gait kinematics (100 Hz Vicon motion capture system). Range of motion (ROM), minimum, and maximum joint angles at a walk and trot of four joints (carpus, fore and hindlimb metacarpophalangeal, and tarsocrural) were evaluated during the stance phase. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

    Results: Lameness improved following all three treatments, but no significant changes in joint kinematic measurements were identified. Evaluating baseline maximum angles, the median forelimb fetlock angle was 12.5 degrees (IQR: 9.7–21.6 degrees) at a walk, and 20.6 degrees (IQR: 16.6–31.5 degrees) at a trot. The hindlimb fetlock angle was 26.0 degrees (IQR: 8.9–38.3 degrees) at a walk and 38.8 degrees (IQR: 20.5–50.9 degrees) at a trot. Across all study phases, hindlimb fetlock angles were consistent (p ≥ 0.86 walk, p ≥ 0.99 trot). During the trot, the maximum carpal joint angle was 4.3 degrees (IQR: 1.6–5.7 degrees) and the maximum tarsocrural joint angle was 26.2 degrees (IQR: 22.5–43.9 degrees). However, carpal angles were less consistent across phases.

    Discussion/Conclusion: Kinematic evaluation using joint angles did not detect changes in lameness. It is unclear whether this is due to inconsistent marker placement (hair was clipped for consistency in placement), high variability horse movement, or lack of methodology sensitivity.

    Acknowledgment

    Funding was provided by the University of Tennessee graduate school student/faculty research award. The novel compound was provided by EicOsis. The authors would like to acknowledge K.G. Kerr, L. Gray, S. Jackson, and J. Levy for assistance with data collection.


     

    Publication History

    Article published online:
    15 July 2025

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