The Internal Hoof Morphology of the Pl, P2, and P3 bones in equine

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the P3 pedal angle of the feet of healthy equine exhibiting no P3 bone rotation in comparison to equine with corrective shoeing or apparent P3 bone rotation or laminitis. The internal pedal bones of 51 equine were radiographed, digitally photographed, and scanned into the EponaTech program. The overall internal pedal anatomy of the Pl, P2, P3, and navicular bone was compared between all 51 equine. Seven landmarks were used in assessment: angle of the palmer surface of P3, hoof wall to coffin bone length, dorsal hoof wall depth, length of the bottom of the navicular bone to the ground, parallel relationships between Pl, P2, and P3, distance from the tip of the coffin bone to the toe, and the length from the tip of the coffin bone in relation to the tip of the frog. Results show that a significant number of healthy equine had angles of the palmer surface of the P3 pedal bone to the ground angles that were greater than five degrees compared to the number of healthy equine with P3 angles less than five degrees. Results also suggest a significant difference in hoof morphology between healthy equine versus equine with significant P3 bone rotation.