Doppler sonographic evaluation of the digital blood flow in horses with laminitis or septic pododermatitis.
Authors: Wongaumnuaykul, Siedler, Schobesberger, Stanek
Journal: Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
Summary
# Editorial Summary Doppler ultrasonography offers a practical, non-invasive means of tracking vascular changes in equine digital disease, with blood flow velocity and pulsatility indices proving sensitive to disease progression and treatment response. Researchers compared medial digital artery haemodynamics in horses with septic pododermatitis (n=8) and laminitis (n=4) against healthy controls (n=10), using Doppler measurements alongside lameness assessments at baseline and days 3, 6, and 9 post-treatment. Acutely lame horses demonstrated significantly elevated blood flow velocities, arterial diameter, and flow volume alongside reduced pulsatility indices compared to controls—findings that, whilst not differentiating between the two disease conditions, reversed meaningfully with successful treatment as velocities and flow volume decreased and pulsatility indices normalised. Although resistive indices showed limited diagnostic value and no direct correlation emerged between Doppler parameters and lameness severity, the significant haemodynamic shifts observed during clinical recovery suggest these ultrasound markers could usefully supplement clinical assessment in monitoring treatment efficacy and tissue perfusion recovery in both septic and inflammatory digit conditions. This non-invasive approach may prove particularly valuable for practitioners seeking objective, repeatable measures of digital vascular response during rehabilitation phases.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Doppler ultrasound of the digital artery provides an objective, non-invasive way to monitor vascular changes in lame horses with foot disease, complementing clinical assessment
- •Blood flow velocity and pulsatility index appear useful as markers of treatment response and disease progression, with improvements visible as early as 3-9 days post-treatment
- •Doppler parameters may help differentiate between laminitis and septic pododermatitis (via resistive index patterns), potentially aiding diagnosis when clinical signs are ambiguous
Key Findings
- •Before treatment, lame horses showed significantly higher blood flow velocities, arterial diameter, and flow volume compared to controls, with significantly lower pulsatility indices (P < 0.05)
- •Resistive indices were significantly lower in laminitis horses versus controls, but showed no significant difference in septic pododermatitis horses
- •After treatment, blood flow velocities and flow volume decreased significantly and pulsatility indices increased significantly in both disease groups
- •No correlation was found between Doppler parameters and the degree of lameness, and Doppler sonography can be used to monitor disease progression in septic pododermatitis and laminitis