Szabó Luca, Pollard Danica, Nagy Annamária
Department and Clinic of Equine Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Budapest, Hungary.
Independent Consultant, Wisbech, UK.
Equine Vet J. 2025 Sep;57(5):1328-1340. doi: 10.1111/evj.14509. Epub 2025 Apr 15.
There are no published reference ranges on computed tomographic (CT) hoof wall and sole measurements.
To establish reference ranges for CT measurements of the hoof wall and sole in non-lame horses, and to investigate associations between measurements and signalment, laterality, and medial or lateral sides.
Retrospective, cross-sectional study.
Soft tissue reconstructions of fan-beam CT studies of 110 front feet of 56 non-lame horses (30 Thoroughbred racehorses, 26 Warmblood showjumpers), performed in non- to semi-weightbearing positions, were analysed. Hoof wall thickness and its layers were measured at standardised sites. The dorsal hoof wall to palmar length of the distal phalanx (DHWDP) ratio was calculated. Paired sample t-tests assessed differences in medial and lateral measurements. Multivariable mixed-effects linear regression models evaluated associations between the measurements and explanatory variables.
Reference ranges were established; the mean total dorsal hoof wall thickness was 14.03 ± 1.37 mm in Thoroughbred racehorses and 15.79 ± 1.41 mm in Warmblood showjumpers. The mean DHWDP ratio was 0.24 ± 0.02 in both breeds. The sole was significantly thicker laterally than medially at the palmar measurement site, perpendicular to the ground (mean difference: 2.12 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57, 2.67) and to the surface of the sole (mean difference: 2.08 mm, 95% CI 1.50, 2.66) (p < 0.05). Only bodyweight:height ratio was significantly associated with proximal, middle, and distal dorsal hoof wall thickness across all layers (p < 0.05), except the middle dorsal combined corium and stratum internum measurement. Differences persisted between medial and lateral sides even after adjustment for signalment and laterality (p < 0.05), apart from the sole measurements at the middle measurement site.
Results may not be applicable to other breeds.
The established reference range of hoof wall and solar CT measurements in non-lame horses can aid accurate interpretation of CT studies of horses with foot pain.
关于计算机断层扫描（CT）测量蹄壁和蹄底的参考范围尚未见报道。
建立非跛行马的蹄壁和蹄底CT测量参考范围，并研究测量值与马匹信息、肢体侧别以及内侧或外侧之间的关联。
回顾性横断面研究。
对56匹非跛行马（30匹纯种赛马、26匹温血障碍马）的110只前蹄进行扇形束CT研究的软组织重建分析，扫描时马匹处于非负重至半负重体位。在标准化部位测量蹄壁厚度及其各层厚度，并计算背侧蹄壁至远节指骨掌侧长度（DHWDP）的比值。采用配对样本t检验评估内侧和外侧测量值的差异。多变量混合效应线性回归模型评估测量值与解释变量之间的关联。
确定了参考范围；纯种赛马背侧蹄壁总平均厚度为14.03±1.37mm，温血障碍马为15.79±1.41mm。两个品种的平均DHWDP比值均为0.24±0.02。在与地面垂直的掌侧测量部位以及与蹄底表面垂直的部位，蹄底外侧明显比内侧厚（平均差值：2.12mm，95%置信区间[CI] 1.57，2.67；平均差值：2.08mm，95%CI 1.50，2.66）（p<0.05）。除中间背侧真皮和中间层联合测量值外，仅体重与身高比值与所有层的近端、中间和远端背侧蹄壁厚度显著相关（p<0.05）。即使在对马匹信息和肢体侧别进行校正后，内侧和外侧之间的差异仍然存在（p<0.05），中间测量部位的蹄底测量值除外。
结果可能不适用于其他品种。
所建立的非跛行马蹄壁和蹄底CT测量参考范围有助于准确解读患蹄痛马匹的CT研究结果。
