Project Dexter - Research criteria
Project Dexter is a proposal for research into the rehabilitation of horses who are included in one of two categories:
(a) horses where magnetic resonance imaging (“MRI”) of the affected limb has indicated lesions to the deep digital flexor tendon (“DDFT”) proximal to the navicular bone; or
(b) horses with a clinical history of lameness over at least [3-6 months] where lameness is abolished or significantly improved (more than 50%) by perineural analgesia of the palmar or plantar (abaxial sesamoid) nerves.
These criteria will be demonstrated by the referring veterinary surgeon’s diagnosis, local analgesia, radiography and MRI.
The horses in the study will have received a variety of treatment prior to entering the study, but none will have returned to full work as a result of that treatment. This will be demonstrated by a questionnaire to be completed by the horses’ owners, in the form attached.
Background
In a recent study (Dyson et al, EVJ (2005) 37 (2) 113-121), horses diagnosed with lesions to the DDFT or damage to the navicular bone or distal interphalangeal joint (“DIP”) had a guarded to poor prognosis for return to full competitive work, with the majority (72-95%) failing to return to full work after treatment. The prognosis for horses with injuries to both DDFT and navicular bone was extremely poor, with 95% failing to return to full work.
Experience at Rockley Farm has indicated that very often it is possible to achieve significant improvements in soundness in horses showing similar patterns of lameness using the rehabilitation programme (“RP”).
Research Question
Can the RP deliver a significant improvement on the previously poor prognosis for horses with these two types of lameness?
