Morphological and Imaging Evaluation of the Metacarpophalangeal and Metatarsophalangeal Joints in Healthy and Lame Donkeys.
Authors: El-Gendy Samir A A, Alsafy Mohamed A M, Rutland Catrin Sian, El-Khamary Ahmad N, Abu-Ahmed Howaida M, El-Kammar Mahmoud H
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Imaging donkey joints remains underexplored despite their socio-economic importance, particularly when clinical lameness is present. El-Gendy and colleagues used a multi-modal approach combining anatomical dissection, radiography, and computed tomography (CT) on 13 donkey metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints—both sound and lame—to establish detailed morphological baselines and identify imaging protocols that best reveal soft tissue and bony pathology. Standard radiographs appeared normal in several cases, yet CT scanning at 300 mA (versus 120 mA) successfully visualised exostotic changes, ligamentous structures, synovial recesses, and the distinction between cortical and medullary bone that radiography missed entirely. The findings are particularly relevant for practitioners involved in lameness diagnosis, regional anaesthesia placement, and joint treatment: understanding the precise anatomy of palmar/plantar and dorsal joint recesses and recognising that CT is substantially superior to radiography for detecting early degenerative changes means clinicians can make more targeted diagnostic and therapeutic decisions in donkeys, a species whose orthopaedic imaging has historically lacked standardised reference data.
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Practical Takeaways
- •CT imaging at 300 mA should be preferred over X-ray and lower-dose CT for detecting joint pathology and exostosis in donkey limbs that may appear normal on radiographs
- •Anatomical knowledge of joint recess locations and soft tissue anatomy is relevant for planning injection sites and anesthesia approaches in clinical donkey practice
- •Donkey metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joint anatomy differs from horses; practitioners should not assume equine anatomical relationships apply directly to donkeys
Key Findings
- •Joint capsules contained two palmar/plantar and two dorsal recesses, with proximal-palmar/plantar recesses larger than distodorsal recesses
- •Computed tomography at 300 mA superior to 120 mA for distinguishing soft tissue structures including synovial sheaths, ligaments, and joint recesses
- •Exostosis in pathologically affected donkeys was revealed by CT but not visible on X-ray radiographs
- •CT provided excellent discrimination of cortical and medullary bone in metacarpals, sesamoid bones, and proximal phalanx with detailed osseous structure visualization