Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Dorsal Proximal Synovial Plica of the Equine Metacarpo‐/Metatarsophalangeal Joint |
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| Authors: | S Hauspie K Vanderperren I Gielen B Pardon K Kromhout A Martens J H Saunders |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopaedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium;2. Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Biology of Large Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium;3. Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | A synovial plica is present at the dorsoproximal aspect of the fetlock joint. The objective of this study was to describe the location of the synovial plica during induced hyperextension using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. For this study 20 cadaver limbs from five Warmblood horses were used. Measurements were made of the dorsal; palmar/plantar length and the thickness of the plica with the joint in a normal position. During induced hyperextension of the joint, the position of the plica was described; the dorsal angle of extension and angle of contact between the proximal phalanx (P1) and the condyle were measured. The dorsal length differed between front/hind limbs and between the medial/lateral aspect of the joint. The angle of contact between P1 and condyle differed between front/hind limbs; between the lateral and medial aspect of the joint and between different positions of the plica. Four different positions of the plica were observed: shortened with the tip curved towards palmar/plantar; projecting distally; projecting towards dorsal and projecting distally with the tip interposed between P1 and the condyle. During induced hyperextension, a close relation is present between the synovial plica, P1 and the condyle with a variable position of the plica; which is suggestive for a contact interface between P1 and the metacarpal/metatarsal bone. However the plica does not seem to act consistently as a cushioning surface. |
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