Distal interphalangeal joint capsule enthesopathy of the middle phalanx and articular cartilage loss
Data files
Sep 17, 2025 version files 7.50 KB
Abstract
Significant distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) pathology, particularly affecting soft tissue and articular cartilage, is often not identifiable on radiographs but can be accompanied by joint capsule enthesopathy on the middle phalanx (P2) that can be readily identified. We retrospectively examined the frequency and correlations between DIPJ capsule enthesopathy identified on MRI and radiographs and DIPJ articular cartilage abnormalities and other concurrent soft tissue or osseous pathology within the foot found on high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Abnormalities were graded using a 4-point scale. Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlations were used to analyze the relationship between the presence and grade of DIPJ capsule enthesopathy, lameness, and DIPJ intra-articular and collateral ligament abnormalities seen on MRI. We identified DIPJ articular cartilage lesions in the majority of horses with DIPJ capsule enthesopathy (20/21 limbs, 95%). However, no significant correlation between the degree of DIPJ capsule enthesopathy and severity of articular cartilage lesions was identified. DIPJ proliferative synovitis and osteophytes were present in most cases (91% and 95%, respectively). DIPJ collateral ligaments were abnormal in 52% of the limbs. Additionally, DIPJ collateral ligament abnormality grade was moderately positively correlated with DIPJ capsule enthesopathy severity (r=0.53, p= 0.01). In summary, our findings support that the presence of DIPJ capsule enthesopathy on radiographs is frequently seen with articular cartilage loss.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6djh9w1fk
Description of the data and file structure
Summary of the data collected for each case fulfilling the inclusion criteria for the study. The provided information was used for descriptive statistics and to calculate Spearman's rank correlation.
Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the relationship between the presence and grade of DIPJ capsule enthesopathy and horse signalment, limb distribution, lameness grade and duration, DIPJ articular cartilage abnormalities, proliferative synovitis, effusion, and collateral ligament injury. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to assess correlations between the radiographic and MRI-based DIPJ capsule enthesopathy grades and the severity of DIPJ pathologies listed above.
Files and variables
File: DISTAL_INTERPHALANGEAL_JOINT_CAPSULE_ENTHESOPATHY_OF_THE_MIDDLE_PHALANX_AND_ARTICULAR_CARTILAGE_LOSS_-_complete_dataset.csv
Description:
Variables
- MRN – Medical Record Number (identifier, numeric).
- Name – Horse identifier (Horse 1, Horse 2, etc.).
- Age – Age of horse (years).
- Sex – Sex of horse( F= female, G= gelding, M= male/stallion).
- Breed – Breed of horse (QH = Quarter Horse, WB = Warmblood, TB= Thoroughbred, Friesian).
- Use – Horse’s use/discipline (e.g., Dressage, Western performance).
- Lameness grade – Clinical lameness severity (1-5 AAEP lameness scale, ordinal score).
- Lameness duration (mo) – Duration of lameness in months
- Perineural/Intra-articular anesthesia – Diagnostic anesthesia performed ( PD- palmar digital block, abaxial = abaxial sesamoid block).
- DIPJ CE presence – Presence of distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) capsule enthesopathy ( 0= absent, 1= present).
- DIPJ CE DX grade – Radiographic grade of DIPJ capsule enthesopathy (ordinal scale).
- Limb – Affected limb (e.g., LF = left forelimb, RF = right forelimb).
- DIPJ CE MRI grade – MRI grade of DIPJ capsule enthesopathy (ordinal).
- DIPJ AC presence – Presence of DIPJ articular cartilage loss (0= absent, 1= present).
- DIPJ AC grade – Severity of DIPJ articular cartilage lesion (ordinal).
- DIPJ AC descriptive – Text description of cartilage lesion.
- DIPJ proliferative synovitis presence – Presence of synovial proliferation (0= absent, 1= present).
- DIPJ proliferative synovitis grade – Ordinal grading of synovitis severity.
- DIPJ effusion presence – Presence of joint effusion (0= absent, 1= present).
- DIPJ effusion grade – Ordinal severity grade of effusion.
- DIPJ osteophytes presence – Presence of osteophytes (0= absent, 1= present).
- DIPJ osteophytes grade – Ordinal severity grade of osteophytes.
- DIPJ CL injury presence – Presence of collateral ligament injury (0= absent, 1= present).
- DIPJ CL injury (LCL, MCL, BOTH) – Which collateral ligament affected (LCL= lateral collateral ligament, MCL = medial collateral ligament).
- DIPJ CL grade (MCL vs LCL) – Grading of injury per ligament.
- DIPJ CL injury grade – Collateral ligament injury grade (higher grade used for statistical analysis)
Abbreviations
- DIPJ = Distal interphalangeal joint
- CE = Capsule enthesopathy
- DX = Radiographs
- AC = Articular cartilage
- CL = Collateral ligament
- LCL = Lateral collateral ligament
- MCL = Medial collateral ligament
- PD = Palmar digital anesthesia
- QH = Quarter Horse
- WB = Warmblood
- TB = Thoroughbred
Missing Values
- Present as: "."(dot)
Code/software
Data used for analyses is stored in Excel. SAS 9.4 software was used for statistical analyses.
Access information
Data was derived from the following source: Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Medical Records