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Quadrilateral suspensory and straight sesamoidean ligament calcifying desmopathy in an Arabian mare
Author(s) -
Hui S. K. Y.,
Turner S. J.,
Leaman T. R.,
Brot S.,
Barakzai S. Z.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12705
Subject(s) - medicine , anatomy , echogenicity , suspensory ligament , palpation , histopathological examination , physical examination , gross examination , ligament , horse , ultrasound , pathology , radiology , biology , paleontology
Summary A 5‐year‐old Arabian mare was referred for the investigation of recent behavioural change, generalised stiffness, and owner‐reported polyuria and polydipsia. Clinical examination revealed severe pain associated with palpation along the entire length of the suspensory ligament ( SL ) and palmar soft tissues of the pastern regions of both forelimbs. Radiographs of the distal forelimbs demonstrated marked radiopaque striations within the straight sesamoidean ligaments ( SSL s), and less severe but similar changes in the regions of the SL branches. Ultrasonography of both distal forelimbs revealed multifocal, hyperechoic lesions within the SSL s. The SL bodies and branches were enlarged and had mixed echogenicity on ultrasound scan. The horse was subjected to euthanasia at the owner's request and submitted for post‐mortem examination. Relevant gross findings were restricted to the SL s and SSL s of all four limbs, all of which contained severe mineralisation and irregularly arranged fibres. Histological examination revealed severe, multifocal to coalescing, dystrophic mineralisation with cartilaginous and osseous metaplasia, which suggested a primary calcifying desmopathy affecting all four SL s and SSL s. Clinical findings in the case reported here were similar to that of degenerative suspensory ligament desmitis previously reported by many authors, but diagnostic imaging and histopathological findings were significantly different.