Background: Orthopedic diseases involving the forelimb fetlock joint of horses other than those used in professional racing have not been widely reported in the literature. One of these problems is the exostosis on the proximal forelimb phalanx (P1), which has not been reported previously in Western Libya. Aim: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of P1 exostosis in traditional equestrian horses (known locally as Sarj horses) of different breeds in Libya that participated in a special social event and described its clinical findings radiographic appearance. Methods: The current study involved 60 horses admitted to private veterinary clinics with varied fetlock orthopedic problems. The studied horses were aged between 6 and 11 years old and galloped on hard grounds. Clinical and radiographic examinations were carried out on all horses. Lateromedial radiographs for one or both forelimb fetlock joints were acquired for each horse. Results: Clinical examination revealed that 21 horses (35%) had hard non-painful swelling on the dorsal aspect of fetlock with joint stiffness during flexion. In 19 of them, the swelling was bilateral. No forelimb lameness was noticed. Radiographically, hard swelling was diagnosed as bone exostosis, with various sizes, on the proximo-dorsal aspect of P1. There was also a new bone formation on the disto-dorsal part of third metacarpal bone in two cases. Conclusion: This study has documented the first report on bone exostosis on the proximo-dorsal aspect of the forelimb proximal phalanx as a common problem in Sarj horses that galloped on hard grounds in Western Libya. Although this bone lesion did not cause lameness in all reported cases, further investigations are warranted to identify its histopathological nature, potential etiology, and proper treatment. Keywords: Exostosis, Fetlock, Forelimb proximal phalanx, Horse, Radiography.
Mohamed Hamrouni S. Abushhiwa, Taher N. Elmeshreghi, Abdulrhman Mohamed Salah Alrtib, Emad M R Bennour, Aiman Hussein Saleh Oheida(1-2022)

This study assessed the biodistribution of autologous leucocytes radiolabelled with technetium-99m stannous fluoride colloid (99mTcSnC) for detection of foci of induced inflammation in dogs. Venous blood was collected from seven healthy dogs and incubated with 99mTcSnC for 1 h at room temperature. Radiolabelled samples were injected intravenously (IV) and the dogs were scanned using a gamma camera. Another seven healthy dogs were injected intradermally with tumour necrosis factor α and then IV with 99mTcSnC radiolabelled autologous blood 3 h later before being scanned. The radiolabelled leucocytes localised to sites of inflammation by 30 min post-injection. IV injection of autologous leucocytes radiolabelled with 99mTcSnC appears to be a sensitive method for localisation of induced foci of inflammation in dogs.
Mohamed Hamrouni S. Abushhiwa, Nouria S.Salehi, Meir Lichtenstein, Peter M. Lording, Peter J. Finnin, Robert C. Whitton, Jennifer A. Charles, Bruce W. Parry (8-2010)

Animals alter their locomotor mechanics to adapt to a loss of limb function. To better understand their compensatory mechanisms, this study evaluated the changes in the fore-aft ground forces to forelimb lameness and tested the hypothesis that dogs unload the affected limb by producing a nose-up pitching moment via the exertion of a net-propulsive force when the lame limb is on the ground. Seven healthy Beagles walked and trotted at steady speed on an instrumented treadmill while horizontal force data were collected before and after a moderate lameness was induced. Peak, mean and summed braking and propulsive forces as well as the duration each force was exerted and the time to reach maximum force were evaluated for both the sound and the lame condition. Compared with the sound condition, a net-propulsive force was produced by the lame diagonal limbs due to a reduced braking force in the affected forelimb and an increased propulsive force in the contralateral hindlimb when the dogs walked and trotted. To regain pitch stability and ensure steady speed for a given locomotor cycle, the dogs produced a net-braking force when the sound diagonal limbs were on the ground by exerting greater braking forces in both limbs during walking and additionally reducing the propulsive force in the hindlimb during trotting. Consistent with the proposed mechanism, dogs maximize their double support phases when walking. Likely associated with the fore-aft force adaptations to lameness are changes in muscle recruitment that potentially result in short- and long-term effects on the limb and trunk muscles. arabic 13 English 78
Jalal Mohamed Abdelhadi(12-2012)