Clinical Research Abstracts of the British XXXX Veterinary Association Congress 2015.

@entity1641 @entity924 @entity1796 @entity1795 @entity2693
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Injury to the superficial @entity1795 (SDFT) is common in equids, with a high risk of re-injury associated with changes in @entity924 . In vivo measurement of limb @entity2693 has been shown to correlate with @entity924 after injury [1] but requires kinematic analysis which is impractical in a clinical setting. We have developed a simple system for measuring limb @entity2693 statically, which could be used as a tool for monitoring SDFT healing. OBJECTIVES: To validate a goniometric measurement of limb @entity2693 . STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study. METHODS: Initially, forelimb @entity2693 indices were determined at the walk for 6 equids using a validated kinematic analysis [1]. Limb @entity2693 indices were then calculated using portable floor scales to record ground reaction force (GRF), and an electrogoniometer to record metacarpophalangeal joint angle. Goniometric limb @entity2693 indices were subsequently measured in 11 @entity1641 ranging from 2 to 20 years of age, with no clinical evidence of @entity1796 . Strength and significance of correlation and agreement between the measurement methods was assessed and association between limb @entity2693 , limb (left vs. right), weight and age of @entity1641 and were calculated. RESULTS: There were strong positive correlations between GRF and joint angle (R(2)   =   0.98) and between the static and kinematic methods (R   =   0.78, P<0.01). There was a positive correlation between limb @entity2693 and weight (R(2)   =   0.85, P<0.01), but no association with age or limb. CONCLUSIONS: This study validated the measurement of limb @entity2693 in a clinical setting. The positive correlation of limb @entity2693 and weight supports the theory of an optimised limb spring [2] for energy-efficient cursorial locomotion which may, in turn, provide a clinically-relevant measure of running efficiency and therefore the quality of @entity1796 . Ethical animal research:   Owner consent was obtained. SOURCE OF FUNDING:    None. Competing interests:   None declared.
