RESULTS OF BONE-SCINTIGRAPHY IN HORSES USED FOR SHOW JUMPING, HUNTING, OR EVENTING - 141 CASES (1988-1994)

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.