Pj. Ehrlich et al., RESULTS OF BONE-SCINTIGRAPHY IN HORSES USED FOR SHOW JUMPING, HUNTING, OR EVENTING - 141 CASES (1988-1994), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 213(10), 1998, pp. 1460
Objective-To determine anatomic patterns and clinical importance of in
creased radiopharmaceutical uptake in bones of horses used for show ju
mping, hunting, and eventing. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-141
horses evaluated because of lameness. Procedure-Medical records were r
eviewed, and information on results of physical examination, radiograp
hy, and scintigraphy were obtained. Scintigrams were evaluated to iden
tify areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake. Results-834 areas
of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake were identified. Scintigraphy
of the vertebral column was performed in 78 horses, and 50 had areas o
f increased radiopharmaceutical uptake involving the spinous processes
. Scintigraphy of the proximal phalanx of the forelimb was performed i
n 88 horses. Similarly, scintigraphy of the proximal phalanx of the hi
nd limb was performed in 99 horses, and scintigrams of 374 proximal ph
alanges were available for review. One hundred fifty-five scintigrams
had areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake. Scintigraphy of the
tarsal joint was performed in 99 horses, and scintigrams of 198 joint
s were available for review. Eighty-five had areas of increased radiop
harmaceutical uptake. Overall, 214 of 834 areas of increased radiophar
maceutical uptake were definitively associated with lameness. Clinical
Implications-Results of this study suggest that jumping creates uniqu
e stresses on the bones of horses, The distinctive patterns of increas
ed radiopharmaceutical uptake identified in this study suggest that ho
rses used for jumping may have a predilection to develop orthopedic di
sease at specific sites distinct from those in racehorses.