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Radiological study to evaluate suspected scapulohumeral joint dysplasia in Shetland ponies
Author(s) -
BOSWELL JANE C.,
SCHRAMME M. C.,
WILSON A. M.,
MAY S. A.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03860.x
Subject(s) - medicine , scapula , lameness , shetland , osteoarthritis , glenoid cavity , sagittal plane , hip dysplasia , orthodontics , phalaris arundinacea , radiography , anatomy , surgery , pathology , oceanography , alternative medicine , geology , ecology , wetland , biology
Summary A radiological study was performed to test the hypothesis that osteoarthritis of the scapulohumeral joint in Shetland ponies is secondary to shoulder dysplasia. Animals were selected into 3 groups: Group 1 : Shetland ponies with a radiological and clinical diagnosis of scapulohumeral osteoarthritis (n = 8),* Group 2 : Shetland ponies without forelimb lameness (n = 12); Group 3 : Horses/ponies without a history or clinical signs of forelimb lameness (n = 22). Anatomical indices were measured from mediolateral radiographs of a scapulohumeral joint from each animal. There was a significant difference in the mean radius of curvature of the glenoid cavity of the scapula (RCG) between the 3 groups (MANOVA test, P = 0.003). The mean RCG of both Group 1 (P = 0.001) and Group 2 (P = 0.022) was significantly greater than that of Group 3. There was no significant effect of group on the radius of curvature of the humeral head or on the Conformity Index. There was a significant effect of group on the Glenoid Ratio (MANOVA test, P = 3 times 10‐ 6 ). The mean Glenoid Ratio was significantly lower in both Group 1 (P = 2 times 10 6 ) and in Group 2 (P = 0.006) than in Group 3. These results indicate that the glenoid cavity of the scapula is ‘flatter’ and ‘shallower’ in Shetland ponies which we postulate to be a primary dysplasia in this breed.