Effectual of Thermographic Diagnosis at Equine Medial Patellar Ligament Tear

Abstract

Different techniques are used in the diagnosis of medial patellar ligament tear in horses along with ultrasonography, which is frequently used. This study investigates the use of thermography, a non-invasive, cost-effective and portable diagnostic tool, in a rare case of medial patellar ligament tear in horses. An 11-year-old German jumping horse with hindlimb lameness was examined before and after training using clinical evaluation, ultrasonography, and thermography. Temperature changes in different anatomical regions differed with the activity level of the horse. The cranial surface of the stifle joint showed elevated temperatures at rest, signifying the medial patellar ligament’s struggle to absorb quadriceps forces. As the horse trained, temperatures on the cranial and lateral surfaces increased, indicating increased loading. After rigorous training, load-sharing occurred between the cranial and caudal surfaces of the joint and the quadriceps muscle. Temperature changes on specific joint surfaces and the quadriceps muscle, as captured by thermography, can indicate injury severity and help clinicians suspect ligament tears even without access to ultrasonography. This study is among the first to explore medial patellar ligament tears and suggests the potential of thermography as a diagnostic method in equine stifle joint injuries. However, this research marks a promising step towards improved equine diagnostics, particularly in field conditions where other diagnostic methods may be impractical.