The Effectiveness of Thermography in Determining Localization of Orthopedic Diseases in Horses

Abstract

Infrared thermographic imaging of horses is becoming more popular in equine practice, and it is regarded to be a valuable method for detecting lesions with the potential to cause lameness. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of thermal cameras in determine the location of lesions in horses with lameness. Twenty four Arabian horses aged 6.3±1.8 (mean ± standard deviation) years old were included in this study. Temperature measurements were obtained with a thermal camera on the fore and hindlimb of all horses with lameness and the area where the temperature increased (suspected area) was selected. Following the suspected area was determined, temperature measurements were performed in the symmetric area of the same animal. All thermal camera temperatures were taken from four different points (lateral, medial, dorsal, palmar/plantar) and the average of measurements was recorded. The mean temperature measurement in the suspected area (34.7±1.7°C) was significantly higher than the symmetric area (31.8±2.1°C) in horses (p<0.001). In conclusion, thermography can be used to determine rapidly and effectively the localization of the orthopedic lesion in horses.

Keywords

• Lesion
• Lameness
• Temperature
• Horse

Atlarda Ortopedik Hastalıkların Lokalizasyonunu Belirlemede Termografinin Etkinliği

Abstract

Atların kızılötesi termografik görüntülemesi, at hekimliğinde oldukça popüler hale gelen ve atlarda topallığa neden olma potansiyeline sahip lezyonları tespit etmek için kullanılan yararlı bir yöntem olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, topallığı olan atlarda lezyonların yerini belirlemede termal kameranın etkinliğini araştırmaktı. Bu çalışmaya 6.3±1.8 (ortalama±standart sapma) yaşındaki toplam yirmi dört Arap atı dahil edildi. Topallığı olan tüm atların ön ve arka bacaklarında termal kamera ile sıcaklık ölçümleri yapılarak sıcaklığın arttığı bölge (şüpheli bölge) belirlendi. Şüpheli bölge belirlendikten sonra aynı hayvanın simetrik bölgesinde sıcaklık ölçümleri yapıldı. Tüm termal kamera sıcaklıkları 4 farklı noktadan (lateral, medial, dorsal, palmar/plantar) alındı ve ölçümlerin ortalaması kaydedildi. Atlarda şüpheli alandaki (34.7±1.7°C) ortalama sıcaklık ölçümü simetrik alandan (31.8±2.1°C) istatistiksel olarak önemli ölçüde yüksek olarak belirlendi (p<0.001). Sonuç olarak, termografi atların ortopedik lezyonlarının lokalizasyonunu belirlemede hızlı ve etkin bir yöntem olarak kullanılabilir.

Keywords

• Lesion
• Lameness
• Temperature
• At

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