Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
MRI helps diagnose central tarsal bone fractures in lame performance
By Myers, Taylor J et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2026·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: High-field magnetic resonance imaging enables diagnosis of central tarsal bone fractures in performance horses with lameness localized to the proximal metatarsus and tarsus.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A group of eight performance horses, including Quarter Horses and a Thoroughbred, were brought in for lameness in the back legs, which had been ongoing for some time. High-field MRI revealed fractures in the central tarsal bone, a condition that can be hard to diagnose with regular X-rays. The horses showed varying degrees of lameness, and the fractures were often accompanied by bone swelling. Thanks to the MRI, veterinarians could accurately assess the fractures and plan for surgery, leading to better treatment outcomes for these athletic horses.
People also search for: horse lameness treatment · central tarsal bone fracture diagnosis · MRI for horse injuries
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Central tarsal bone (CTB) fractures are challenging to diagnose, and cross-sectional imaging is required for definitive characterization and surgical planning. This retrospective case series aims to provide the first description of high-field (3-T) MRI characteristics of CTB fractures, concurrent pathology, and clinical presentation in 8 performance horses. ANIMALS: 8 horses (9 limbs) diagnosed with a CTB fracture on high-field MRI at one tertiary referral hospital between 2013 and 2023 were identified via electronic medical records search. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: Quarter Horses (6 of 8) used for Western performance disciplines, a Lusitano (1 of 8) used for Dressage, and a Thoroughbred (1 of 8) used for polo, with ages ranging from 3 to 20 years (mean, 8.4 years), were included. Lameness onset was chronic in the majority of cases (5 of 8), with grades ranging from 3/5 to 4/5. Lameness was localized to the proximal metatarsus (4 of 6), distal tarsal joints (1 of 6), or tarsocrural joint (1 of 6). A suspected CTB fracture was identified on radiographs prior to MRI in only 1 limb. RESULTS: Fractures were complete (6 of 9) or incomplete (3 of 9) with a dorsomedial to plantarolateral orientation occurring from 36° to 62° medial to the sagittal plane (mean, 52°). There was severe sclerosis (9 of 9) and mild (4 of 9), moderate (4 of 9), or severe (1 of 9) bone edema-like signal associated with all fractures. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: High-field MRI enabled diagnosis and detailed evaluation of CTB fracture configuration and concurrent bone and soft tissue pathology. Dorsomedial-plantarolateral oblique radiographic projections at approximately 50° medial to the sagittal plane may improve initial CTB fracture identification in performance horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40846121/