The Effectiveness of Thermography in Determining Localization of Orthopedic Diseases in Horses

Abstract

Infrared thermographic imaging of horses is becoming more popular in equine practice, and it is regarded to be a valuable method for detecting lesions with the potential to cause lameness. The current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of thermal cameras in determine the location of lesions in horses with lameness. Twenty four Arabian horses aged 6.3±1.8 (mean ± standard deviation) years old were included in this study. Temperature measurements were obtained with a thermal camera on the fore and hindlimb of all horses with lameness and the area where the temperature increased (suspected area) was selected. Following the suspected area was determined, temperature measurements were performed in the symmetric area of the same animal. All thermal camera temperatures were taken from four different points (lateral, medial, dorsal, palmar/plantar) and the average of measurements was recorded. The mean temperature measurement in the suspected area (34.7±1.7°C) was significantly higher than the symmetric area (31.8±2.1°C) in horses (p