Vets Test Optical Coherence Tomography in Horse Joints

This new technique could allow veterinarians to better evaluate equine joint cartilage.
Share
Favorite
Close

No account yet? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

If you want to get a clear look what’s going on in your horse’s joints, optical coherence tomography (OCT) might be a new method to use, according to a group of Finnish researchers.

“In contrast to arthroscopy, OCT allows us to evaluate the cartilage beneath the surface, as well as determine the exact thickness of the cartilage,” said Tytti Niemelä, DVM, PhD, of the Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine at the University of Helsinki, in Finland.

This newly tested technique works by measuring light that is scattered or reflected off microscopic structures inside the joint. It’s so powerful that it can create cross-sectional images of 1 to 15 micrometers in resolution, in real time, like a video camera. It works similarly to ultrasounds, except instead of measuring reflected sounds, OCT measures reflected light—and at much higher performance levels.

Arthroscopy shows real-time images via a tiny camera placed inside a joint that has been filled with fluid (to expand it and make it easier to see). While it’s a very useful tool, arthroscopy is limited because it can’t reach all parts of the joint, Niemelä said. Additionally, degenerative changes in cartilage can be hidden from the camera view under healthy cartilage, she said, and it can be difficult to distinguish between superficial (minor) and deep (severe) cartilage lesions with the arthroscope. What’s more, veterinarians don’t always agree with each other about what they’re seeing on arthroscopy, with interobserver reliability reaching only about 30%

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Share

Written by:

Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

Related Articles

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

Where do you primarily feed your horse?
313 votes · 313 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

Sign In

Don’t have an account? Register for a FREE account here.

Need to update your account?

You need to be logged in to fill out this form

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!