Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using accelerometers to identify a high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury in three racing Thoroughbreds.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 2024
- Authors:
- Sweeney, Denise Mc et al.
- Affiliation:
- College of Veterinary Medicine · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study involving three racing Thoroughbreds, researchers used special sensors to monitor the horses' movements and found that all three showed unusual stride patterns, indicating a high risk of serious injuries to their bones and joints. A thorough veterinary examination and advanced imaging techniques were conducted shortly after these observations. The results showed that two of the horses had signs suggesting they were at risk of specific fractures, while the third horse had a serious issue with a bone that was likely causing lameness. After some recovery time, the first two horses were able to return to racing safely, while the third horse is still in training and hasn't raced again yet. Overall, the study highlights how these sensors can help identify horses at risk of severe injuries, allowing for timely veterinary care.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the process whereby the screening of racing Thoroughbreds with accelerometer-based inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors followed by clinical evaluation and advanced imaging identified potentially catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in 3 horses. ANIMALS: 3 Thoroughbred racehorses. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: All cases demonstrated an abnormal stride pattern either during racing (cases 1 and 2) or while breezing (case 3) and were identified as being at very high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury by an algorithm derived from IMU sensor files from > 20,000 horses' race starts. Veterinary examination and 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) positron emission tomography were performed within 10 days of the respective race or breeze in each of the cases. RESULTS: The intensity and location of the 18F-NaF uptake in the condyles of the third metacarpal bone in cases 1 and 2 identified them as at potential increased risk of condylar fracture. The pattern and intensity of the 18F-NaF uptake in case 3 indicated that the third carpal bone was likely responsible for the horse's lameness, with an impending slab fracture subsequently identified on radiographs. Following periods of convalescence, cases 1 and 2 returned to racing and were identified by the sensor system as no longer being at high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury. Case 3 returned to training but has yet to return to racing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When worn by Thoroughbreds while racing or breezing, these IMU sensors can identify horses at high risk of catastrophic musculoskeletal injury, allowing for veterinary intervention and the potential avoidance of such injuries.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38906169/