Biomechanical Assessment of the Collateral Ligament of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint of the Horse Following Alterations to the Palmar Angle—A Cadaveric Study

Summary

Heel elevation through therapeutic shoeing fundamentally alters biomechanical loading throughout the distal interphalangeal joint, yet the specific strain distribution across the collateral ligament structures has remained largely unexplored until now. Using cadaveric equine forelimbs, Colla and colleagues measured strain in different regions of the distal interphalangeal joint collateral ligaments (DIJCLs) across a range of palmar angles and axial loading conditions to establish how shoeing geometry influences soft tissue stress. Increasing palmar angle progressively elevated strain in the distal portion of the ligaments, whilst decreasing palmar angle reduced strain proximally, demonstrating a clear mechanical relationship between heel height and regional ligament loading. These findings suggest that therapeutic shoeing decisions—whether elevating heels to offload distal structures or lowering them to reduce proximal strain—have predictable biomechanical consequences that merit consideration when managing DIJCL injuries or degenerative conditions. While this cadaveric work provides valuable mechanical data, translation to living horses requires further investigation to account for muscular support, proprioceptive feedback, and dynamic loading patterns that influence real-world outcomes.

Read the full abstract on PubMed

Key Findings

• •Increased palmar angle significantly increases strain on the distal portion of the DIJCLs
• •Decreased palmar angle decreases strain in the proximal portion of the DIJCLs
• •Loading compression and palmar angle alterations produce measurable biomechanical changes in DIJCL strain distribution

Conditions Studied