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NAVLE® Question of the day

MO TU WED TH FR

May 24, 2024

NAVLE

A 15-year-old Quarter horse mare is presented for right front lameness grade 3/5 on the AAEP lameness scale (lameness consistently visible at the trot). She becomes sound after an abaxial nerve block.

Radiographs of the distal limb look are shown below.

What is the common name for the top differential diagnosis?

A - High ringbone

B - Spavin

C - Pedal osteitis

D - Exostosis of the second metacarpal

E - Chronic proliferative synovitis

Touche! You chose A - High ringbone

This is an example of high ringbone (i.e., degenerative joint disease [DJD] of the proximal interphalangeal joint). Very common in horses. Can be due to chronic wear and tear, overuse, or secondary to a traumatic episode.

Follow this link to see a radiograph of arthrodesis of the proximal interphalangeal joint to resolve DJD.

Osselets are traumatic arthritides of the metacarpophalangeal joints.

Pedal osteitis is demineralization of the solar margin of the distal phalanx, usually due to inflammation.

Bone spavin is osteoarthritis of the distal intertarsal, tarsometarsal, and less commonly, the proximal intertarsal joints.

Image courtesy of Nora Grenager, VMD, DACVIM.