Radiographic and ultrasonographic evaluation of osteoarthritic metacarpophalangeal joints in working equines

In the present study, three horses with lameness due to osteoarthritis of metacarpophalangeal joints were subjected to radiographic and ultrasonographic evaluation. The radiographic and ultrasonographic changes in each case were described. Both radiography and ultrasonography were found to be useful in diagnosing osteoarthritis of metacarpo-phalangeal joints; radiography was useful to diagnose bony changes only in advanced stage of osteoarthritis; whereas ultrasonography helped better visualization of the osteoarthritic changes involving soft tissue structures like synovial membrane/capsule, synovial fluid and articular cartilage.