SAEVA Proceedings 2014 | Page 10

10   46TH  ANNUAL  CONGRESS  OF  THE  SAEVA        SKUKUZA      16-­‐20  FEBRUARY  2014     Prevalence of radiographic changes in South African Thoroughbred racehorses at the yearling sales, 2008-2010. Smit Y1, Rubio-Martinez L2, and Marais HJ*1 1 Section Equine Surgery, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, 2Equine division, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, CH64 7TE, Neston, United Kingdom. Radiographic examination of Thoroughbred racehorses at the time of the yearling sales is common practice in South Africa. Although it is generally accepted that yearlings will have some radiographic changes, there is only one study that estimated the prevalence of these changes in Thoroughbred racehorse yearlings in South Africa. Furniss et al reported on the occurrence of radiographic abnormalities over a one-year period (Furniss 2011). Furniss et al. study differs from other studies in that there was a higher prevalence of palmar metacarpophalangeal and plantar metatarsophalangeal osteochondral fragments and a lower prevalence of pedal osteitis, dorsal osteochondral fragmentation of the metatarsophalangeal joint, distal metacarpal saggital ridge changes, ulnar carpal bone lucencies, carpal osteophytes, distal intertarsal and tarsometatarsal joint changes, tarsal osteochondrosis lesions and stifle osteochondrosis lesions was found. Our objective was to describe the prevalence and distribution of radiographic changes in the metacarpophalangeal joint, metatarsophalangeal joint, carpi, tarsi, stifle and fore digits of racing Thoroughbred yearlings in South Africa when examined as part of a pre-purchase examination during the Annual National Yearling Sales extending from 2008 through 2010. Thoroughbred racehorse yearlings were subjected to radiographic evaluation including the digit (n= 566), metacarpophalangeal joint (n=566), metatarsophalangeal joint (n= 566), carpi (n= 566), tarsi (n= 566) and stifle (n=566). The radiographic changes were categorised by location and type of change present for each series. In South African Thoroughbred racehorse yearlings, radiographic changes most commonly involved the metacarpo- and metatarsophalangeal joints, carpi and tarsi. This study may assist practitioners to identify joints where the most prevalent changes are likely to occur. A follow-up study will be done to compare these changes to racing performance. The digit: Where informal comparisons with previously published data can be made, similar changes of pedal osteitis were recorded in this study, with a total percentage of 6.7%.   10