A statistical software package was used for data analysis (SAS 9.2, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Measurements taken for each forelimb before and after treatment were compared by the dependent sample t-statistic. For statistical analysis, the difference of hoof wall thickness at the proximal and distal hoof wall was calculated. This difference reflects alterations to the hoof wall as a result of laminitis and decreasing values a found in improving patients.
|
|
N |
Mean |
Std Dev |
Minimum |
Maximum |
|
|
Time between pre- and posttreatment
evaluations in months |
|
26 |
8.9230769 |
4.0538680 |
5.0000000 |
20.0000000 |
|
Rotation
|
Pre |
26 |
11.8076923 |
5.6869621 |
5.0000000 |
29.0000000 |
|
Post |
26 |
5.4230769 |
5.1859277 |
0 |
20.0000000 |
|
|
Distance coronary band to extensor
process |
Pre |
26 |
12.1153846 |
3.2811818 |
6.0000000 |
19.0000000 |
|
Post |
26 |
10.9807692 |
3.6013352 |
5.0000000 |
18.0000000 |
|
|
Difference of proximal and distal hoof
wall thickness |
Pre |
26 |
7.5384615 |
3.5802879 |
2.0000000 |
19.0000000 |
|
Post |
26 |
4.4615385 |
3.4552079 |
0 |
12.0000000 |
|
|
Sole depth |
Pre |
26 |
8.5769231 |
2.3566600 |
4.0000000 |
13.0000000 |
|
Post |
26 |
10.6923077 |
2.3284197 |
8.0000000 |
16.0000000 |
|
|
Palmar angle |
Pre |
11.9230769 |
6.5661135 |
3.0000000 |
31.0000000 |
|
|
Post |
5.7692308 |
3.5361866 |
0 |
15.0000000 |
||
|
Obel laminitis score |
Pre |
3.1153846 |
1.0030722 |
0.5000000 |
4.0000000 |
|
|
Post |
0.1153846 |
0.2935198 |
0 |
1.0000000 |
Table 1
Descriptive information on the measurements taken at pre- and post-treatment examinations is given in Table 1.
The distance between coronary band and extensor process did not vary significantly between pre-treatment and post-treatment evaluations (p = 0.0676, 95% CI for difference -0.087 – 2.357).
All horses demonstrated decreased lameness scores at post-treatment evaluation and a statistically significant reduction of the Obel laminitis score was detected (p < 0.0001, 95% CI for difference 2.596 – 3.403)
Sole depth measurements were significantly larger at post-treatment evaluations (p = 0.0055, 95% CI for difference 0.681 - 3.55)
A statistically significant reduction of palmar angle measurements when comparing both examinations was detected (p < 0.0001, 95% CI for difference 4.597 – 7.710).
The angles of rotation at post-treatment evaluation were determined to be significantly smaller than those at the pre-treatment examination (p < 0.0001, 95% CI for difference 4.466 – 8.302).
The difference of the hoof wall thicknesses at the proximal and distal hoof was found to be significantly reduced at post-treatment evaluation (p = <0.0001, 95% CI for difference 2.101 – 4.052).