Effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave  therapy on radiographic and scintigraphic outcomes in horses with palmar heel pain

C. Byron; A. Stewart; B. Benson; B. Tennent-Brown; J. Foreman

doi:10.3415/VCOT-08-04-0037

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2009; 22(02): 113-118
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-08-04-0037

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

Effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy on radiographic and scintigraphic outcomes in horses with palmar heel pain

C. Byron

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA

,

A. Stewart

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA

,

B. Benson

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA

,

B. Tennent-Brown

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA

,

J. Foreman

¹Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana, Illinois, USA

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Summary

Objective: To investigate the effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (RESWT) on radiographic and scintigraphic variables in horses with clinical pain referable to the palmar heel.

Methods: Eight client-owner horses with palmar heel pain were treated with RESWT for a total of three treatments. Nuclear scintigraphy and radiography were repeated at the beginning and completion of the study. Scintigram region of interest (ROI) density ratios were calculated and compared between treated limbs, untreated limbs, and a population of comparison limbs from eight horses free of lameness. Radiographs were scored for whole navicular bone appearance as well as distal border synovial fossae number and severity.

Results: There was not any preversus post-treatment difference in scintigraphic navicular pool phase or delayed phase ROI density ratios in treated limbs, or between treated and untreated limbs. Delayed phase ROI density was increased in the central navicular region in treated limbs compared to comparison limbs from non-lame horses at both time points. Radiographic scores remained unchanged.

Clinical significance: RESWT as applied in the present study has no effect on acute palmar heel region scintigraphic or radiographic parameters. Any acute clinical benefit may be due to analgesic effects rather than stimulation of local tissue metabolism.

Keywords

Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy - palmar heel pain - nuclear scintigraphy - region of interest analysis - horse.

Full Text

References

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