Ultrasonographic assessment of the acutely lame horse: Beyond tendon lesions

摘要

Ultrasonography is useful to identify the following: 1) Joint effusion, where the nature of the effusion can be determined (e.g. floccular in the case of joint sepsis). 2) Synovial hypertrophy - especially evident in joint sepsis. Villonodular synovitis can be identified on the dorsal aspect of the metacarpophalangeal joint. 3) Articular cartilage defects - many of the joints of the limb have very thin cartilage and the resolution of ultrasound limits its usefulness to identify subtle cartilage lesions. However, the technology is advancing rapidly and better definition is being achieved. Younger animals have thicker cartilage and abnormalities such as osteochondrosis of the stifle are easily identified, because of the thicker cartilage in this region, with or without underlying subchondral bone defects.