Avaliação toracolombar em equídeos de tração: estudo clínico, termográfico e ultrassonográfico

Abstract

This study objected to evaluate the efficacy of image diagnostic techniques as thermography and ultrasonography, in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar injuries in draft horses of Belo Horizonte City, and verify the occurrence of relationship of limb injuries and thoracolumbar findings. Sixty one patients admitted in Equine Medicine Service of Federal University of Minas Gerais were used in this study, that performed a quiz to the owners of draft horses (anamnesis), clinical examination (locomotor apparatus, hoof biometry), radiographic exam (lateromedial and dorsoplantar positions) synovial fluid analysis of tarsal joint, physical examination, thermography and ultrasonography of thoracolumbar region. Among the limbs findings are frog necrosis, hoof wall cracks, flat sole, white line disease, and high incidence of tarsal osteoarthritis. The injuries found in the vertebral column was supraspinal and interspinal desmitis, myositis and spinal processes syndromes. The thermography associated with ultrasonography and clinical examination was effective in the diagnosis of thoracolumbar injuries in the examined horses