The Equine Hindlimb Proximal Suspensory Ligament: an Assessment of Health and Function by Means of Its Damping Harmonic Oscillator Properties, Measured Using an Acoustic Myography System: a New Modality Study
Authors: J. C. Chavers, A. Allen, Waqas Ahmed, L. H. Fuglsang-Damgaard, A. Harrison
Journal: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Proximal suspensory ligament (PSL) injury remains a significant source of hindlimb lameness in athletic horses, yet current diagnostic approaches rely heavily on imaging and clinical judgement. Researchers evaluated whether acoustic myography (AMG)—a non-invasive system that measures the shock-dampening properties of soft tissues through vibration analysis—could provide objective, quantifiable assessment of PSL health and injury. In a cohort of 96 horses with hindlimb lameness concerns, acoustic signals were recorded post-exercise and scored on a 0–10 scale; diagnostic imaging and analgesia confirmed the final diagnosis for 85 horses. The AMG system (CURO) demonstrated statistically significant differentiation between PSL-injured horses and all other groups (P > 0.001), with scores above 5 indicating healthy tissue (87% in treated PSL cases), scores of 2.5–4.5 suggesting low-grade injury, and scores below 2 indicating severe compromise. For practitioners, this represents a potentially valuable objective tool to complement clinical examination and imaging; rather than replacing diagnostic ultrasound or MRI, AMG could offer real-time functional assessment of suspensory tissue integrity and possibly support more evidence-based decisions about return-to-work protocols and treatment efficacy.
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Practical Takeaways
- •AMG using the CURO system offers a new objective, quantitative tool to detect PSL injuries earlier and more reliably than traditional clinical assessment alone
- •CURO scoring thresholds (>5 healthy, 2.5-4.5 mild injury, <2 severe injury) provide practical benchmarks for grading PSL damage and monitoring treatment response
- •This non-invasive acoustic modality could complement ultrasound and lameness evaluation to guide treatment decisions and rehabilitation protocols for PSL-injured horses
Key Findings
- •Acoustic myography (AMG) showed significant differences in CURO scores between horses with PSL injury and other diagnostic groups (P > 0.001)
- •Healthy PSLs corresponded to CURO scores >5 (present in 60% of sound horses and 87% of treated PSL cases)
- •Low-level PSL injuries corresponded to scores 2.5-4.5, while severe injuries showed scores <2
- •56.5% of the study population (48/85 horses) had clinical evidence of PSL injury