Biplanar High-Speed Fluoroscopy of Pony Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon (SDFT)—An In Vivo Pilot Study

The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is the most frequently injured structure of the musculoskeletal system in sport horses and a common cause for early retirement. This project’s aim was to visualize and measure the strain of the sound, injured, and healing SDFTs in a pony during walk and t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary sciences 2021-05, Vol.8 (6), p.92
Main Authors: Wagner, Franziska C., Gerlach, Kerstin, Geiger, Sandra M., Gittel, Claudia, Böttcher, Peter, Mülling, Christoph K. W.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bone marrow
collagenase
equine
Fitness equipment
Fluoroscopy
gait
horse
Kinematics
Metacarpal
Musculoskeletal system
Pain
Skin
strain
Strain gauges
Tendinitis
Tendons
Ultrasonic imaging
Wound healing
XROMM
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Summary:The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is the most frequently injured structure of the musculoskeletal system in sport horses and a common cause for early retirement. This project’s aim was to visualize and measure the strain of the sound, injured, and healing SDFTs in a pony during walk and trot. For this purpose, biplanar high-speed fluoroscopic kinematography (FluoKin), as a high precision X-ray movement analysis tool, was used for the first time in vivo with equine tendons. The strain in the metacarpal region of the sound SDFT was 2.86% during walk and 6.78% during trot. When injured, the strain increased to 3.38% during walk and decreased to 5.96% during trot. The baseline strain in the mid-metacarpal region was 3.13% during walk and 6.06% during trot and, when injured, decreased to 2.98% and increased to 7.61%, respectively. Following tendon injury, the mid-metacarpal region contributed less to the overall strain during walk but showed increased contribution during trot. Using this marker-based FluoKin technique, direct, high-precision, and long-term strain measurements in the same individual are possible. We conclude that FluoKin is a powerful tool for gaining deeper insight into equine tendon biomechanics.
ISSN:2306-7381
2306-7381
DOI:10.3390/vetsci8060092