Ultrasonographic examination of the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint in horses. Part B: Abnormal findings and lesions

Ultrasonography is an easy and rewarding technique for the assessment of collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint (CL-DIPJ) desmopathies and enthesopathies. Comparison between ligaments of both feet and oblique incidence improve sensitivity and specificity of the ultrasonographic diagnosis. The main limitation of the procedure is imaging the distal part of the CL-DIPJ and corresponding fossa of the distal phalanx. Alone, or in combination with other imaging procedures, ultrasonography is valuable in the diagnosis of the injured structures, which may help to determine the corrective shoeing and the rehabilitation programme of the horse.