Coffin Joint Pathology & Joint Capsule Pathology on P2
Coffin joint pathology can be difficult to detect on radiographs unless there’s significant osteophyte formation or bone erosion under the cartilage. However, pathology affecting the coffin joint capsule is often easily seen as ossifications on radiographs that form on the dorsal surface of the short pastern bone (P2) where the joint capsule attaches to it.
The objective of this survey study, conducted by Colorado State University researchers, was to determine whether the more visible signs of joint capsule pathology (called enthesopathy) can be linked to problems in the coffin joint, which can be seen using MRI but are not easily visible on radiographs.
Clinical records from an equine referral hospital over an 11-year period were used to explore the correlations present among X-ray and MRI images of 21 feet along with the results of lameness exams. Articular cartilages lesions were identified by MRI in 20 of 21 (95%) coffin joints examined, but there was no correlation between the severity of the cartilage lesions and the enthesopathy seen on radiographs.
Coffin joint synovitis and osteophytes were present in 91% and 95% (respectively) of the feet examined while collateral ligaments of the coffin joint were abnormal in 52% of limbs.
Collateral ligament pathology was moderately correlated with coffin joint capsule enthesopathy. Lameness was present in 18 of 21 cases but was not correlated with the severity of enthesopathy or the degree of articular cartilage loss.
The authors concluded the readily visible enthesopathy seen on the dorsal surface of P2 can be used to rule-in coffin joint cartilage damage and support the diagnosis and treatment.
— Samol MA et al. EVJ 2025; DOI:101111/evj.70096
MRI & X-Ray Hoof Measurements Don’t Always Agree
United Kingdom researchers investigated the agreement between measurements of the foot obtained by multiple observers from MRI and X-ray images of the foot with and without appropriate markers attached to the dorsal hoof wall.
The objective was to determine whether there was agreement between three sets of 21 measurements taken by the same blinded observer, agreement between the two imaging modalities and how hoof wall markers affect the measurements.
Agreement was generally good between repeated measurements made by the same observer. However, there was limited agreement of measurements obtained by MRI and X-rays.
For measurements related to laminitis, measurements were not always repeatable. Founder distance was repeatable between X-rays and MRI with or without markers. Most measurements involving the dorsal hoof wall, sole thickness, and toe length showed acceptable agreement.
Unfortunately, intraobserver repeatability was highly variable for frontal hoof wall measurements, but all radiograph measurements of angles with and without markers were repeatable. The limited agreement between the types of imaging indicates measurements obtained by the different methods are not interchangeable when assessing hoof size and shape, and hoof wall markers do not always benefit the process.
— Bowkett-Prichard C et al. EVJ 2025; DOI:10.1111/evj.14536
Low Heel Nerve Blocks Affect Gait Characteristics
Surgically cutting the nerve that supplies the heel region of the foot (palmar digital neurectomy) can be an effective treatment for navicular disease syndrome, but little is known about how it affects the gait other than eliminating the lameness.
Veterinarians from Tennessee and New York used palmar digital nerve blocks (injection of a numbing medication along the nerve) to simulate the effects of the surgery.
Three mature horses without signs of lameness had Tekscan Hoof Sensors attached to the front hooves using glue-on shoes. They were examined at a walk and trot on both hard (rubber alleyway) and soft surfaces (clay arena).
Loaded area and force were both greater on hard ground after the nerve blocks, but no difference was noted on soft ground. Stride duration was greater before the nerve blocks than after.
This study demonstrates nerve blocks affect the gait, particularly on hard ground, and it is hypothesized these effects would be similar with surgical neurectomy.
— Zimmerman-Cameron S. et al. JEVS 2025;148:105452
Lameness in Campdrafting Stock Horses Down Under
Campdrafting is a traditional Australian cow horse sport akin to cutting combined with penning and sorting around a barrels course. Using medical records from a university veterinary hospital and a private equine practice over a 7-year period, veterinarians in New South Wales, Australia, compiled a case series of 198 campdrafting horses with lameness, excluding hoof abscesses and trauma unrelated to competition, out of 6,300 horses examined. The goal was to describe the occurrence of lameness including the anatomical location, diagnostics used to localize the problem.
Australian stock horses were most common (43%) followed by Quarter Horses (41%). The median age was 7 years and most (52%) were mares with geldings (37%) and stallions (10%) also included.
The most common lameness scores were 2/5 (AAEP 1-5 scale) for 43% or 3/5 for 36%. Most lameness (54%) primarily affected the forelimbs, compared with the hindlimbs (46%) with left and right equally represented. Bilateral forelimb lameness only affected 13% of the subjects. Distal limb lameness was more common (67%) than proximal limb lameness (27%) or axial skeletal lameness (6%).
Diagnostic anesthesia was used to localize the lameness on 70% of the horses with the remainder relying on clinical examination and imaging. The most common nerve blocks used were proximal sesamoid (23%), low palmar/plantar digital nerves (17%), and low 4- or 6-point blocks (15%).
Coffin joint lameness was the most common (22%) in the distal limbs followed by navicular disease (10%), pastern joint problems (8%), coffin joint arthritis (6%) and collateral ligament desmopathy and hoof angle problems (each about 5%). In the proximal hind limbs bone spavin (affecting 26 horses) and arthritis of the stifle (affecting 18 horses).
— Argue BJ et al. EVJ 2025; DOI:10.1111/evj.14551
