Magnetic resonance imaging for detection of some foot lesions causing lameness in donkeys (Equus asinus)

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a good useful imaging tool for diagnosing foot lameness in equine. Seventeen donkeys of age (6–12 years), gender admitted to the clinic unit of our collage with owners complained that the animals were suffered from incurable lameness in their forelimbs. All forelimb foots were collected at the level of fetlock joint after euthanasia for performing MR imaging .The results showed that, both normal anatomy to the foot using T1-weighted image sequence and detection of different lesions involving many parts of the foot such as collateral ligaments of the DIP joint, both DDFT core and border, both navicular bone medullary cavity and cortex, articular cartilage of DIP joint, distal sesamoidean impair ligament (DSIL) and suspensory ligament of the navicular bone that could not be diagnosed by other diagnostic tools such as X- ray, ultrasound and Computed Tomography. In conclusion, Using MRI in examination of donkey foot lameness is considered as a definitive and accurate diagnostic tool for design suitable treatment regimens for all affections.