Med. Weter. 81
full text
| KAROLINA ŚNIEGUCKA, MARIA SOROKO-DUBROVINA, PAULINA ZIELIŃSKA, KRZYSZTOF D. DUDEK |
| Effect of the high-intensity laser therapy on dorsal metacarpal disease in 2-year old Thoroughbreds |
| Dorsal metacarpal disease (DMD) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal injuries in young Thoroughbreds. The study tested the hypothesis that high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), used as the sole therapeutic intervention in horses with DMD, reduces the severity of clinical signs such as pain and lameness compared with horses withdrawn from training but not receiving treatment. During the 2023 and 2024 racing seasons, thermographic examinations were conducted to monitor changes in body surface temperature, alongside orthopedic examination and radiographic examination of the third metacarpal bones. 16 horses were diagnosed with DMD. 11 horses from this group underwent a series of laser treatments (HILT-treated group), while 5 horses were included in the control group, which did not receive laser therapy. The treatment protocol consisted of five HILT sessions administered daily, followed by an additional five sessions administered every other day. To assess the effects of HILT, thermographic and orthopedic examinations of both metacarpal bones were conducted before and after each laser therapy session. Furthermore, radiographic examination and blood sample analyses were performed before and after the completion of the treatment sessions. Additionally, the same procedures were carried out in the control group. The results demonstrated a reduction in pain and lameness in horses treated with HILT. These findings suggest that HILT may alleviate clinical signs associated with DMD, although further studies are required to determine its effect on the healing process and treatment duration. |
| Keywords: Dorsal Metacarpal Disease; HILT; Thoroughbreds< |