Ultrasound Elastographic Features of the Fetlock Joint Capsule in Horses
Abstract Background: Capsulitis leads to the release of inflammatory mediators into the joint causing capsular fibrosis and osteoarthrosis (OA). Strain elastosonography (SE) measures the elasticity of tissue evaluating its strain to an operator-dependent deformation. Aims of the study were to assess the feasibility of SE for evaluating the distal attachment of the joint capsule (DJC) of fore fetlocks in sound horses and in horses with fetlock OA and to evaluate differences in their elastosonographic aspect. After a whole lameness examination, fore fetlocks DJC were assigned to Group S and Group P and examined by two operators using SE. The inter-rater reliability (IRR), the intraclass (intra-CC) and interclass (inter-CC) correlation coefficients were used to compare colour grading scores, repeatability, reproducibility of elasticity index (EI) and strain ratio (SR). The same parameters were compared between groups. Findings were significant for P < 0.05. Results: Forty-one horses were included, 11 in Group S, 30 in Group P (16 with bilateral OA, 8 left and 6 right OA). IRRs ranged from good to excellent. For transverse and longitudinal scans, the EIs of Group S were 0.57-0.51, SRs were 0.32-0.28. Inter-CC and intra-CC were always > 0.8. In Group P, EI was 1.09-0.89, SRs was 0.78-0.72 with intra-CC and inter-CC >0.57. Significative differences of EI and SR were detected between groups, and between Group S and the affected limb of Group P.Conclusions: SE is a useful technique for evaluating the DJC, with good repeatability and reproducibility. DJC appears softer in sound horses.