Catastrophic injuries in racehorses mostly involve the metacarpal region. Although many studies describe fractures of equine limbs, few examine the relationship between bone morphometrics and musculoskeletal problems in racing horses. And yet, according to the regulation of some Italian traditional races, the shin circumference represents a qualifying prerequisite for horses to be admitted to races. This study aims to evaluate the conformity of the shin circumference measurement in living animals and in post‑mortem examinations, in order to evaluate the forensic reliability of these measurements. The right and left distal forelimbs from 11 horses of 5 different breeds were examined. The shin circumference was measured at 3 time points: in the living animal before slaughter/euthanasia, 5 hours post‑mortem, and after 14‑days of cold storage. The isolated limbs were also weighed in both of the post‑mortem examinations. In the examined sample, the mean shin circumference was 24.0 ± 2.4 cm in living animals, 22.9 ± 2.5 cm 5 hours post‑mortem, and 22.4 ± 2.3 cm after 14‑days of cold storage, with a highly significant difference between these measurements (P < 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in the limbs' weight between the 2 post‑mortem examinations (P < 0.001). According to our findings, the post‑mortem measurement significantly underestimates the in vivo dimensions of the shin circumference, even when performed a few hours after death; the forensic soundness of this parameter is therefore limited.

Nel cavallo sportivo le lesioni interessano con maggiore frequenza la regione del metacarpo. Numerosi studi si sono occupati delle fratture a carico degli arti del cavallo ma pochi hanno indagato le possibili relazioni tra l’insorgenza di fratture e la morfometria dei segmenti ossei interessati. Tuttavia, nei regolamenti di alcune corse tradizionali italiane, come il Palio di Siena, la misurazione della circonferenza dello stinco rappresenta un requisito imprescindibile affinché il cavallo possa essere ammesso alla corsa. Scopo dello studio è stato verificare quanto la misurazione della circonferenza dello stinco eseguita nell’ambito dell’esame post‑mortem possa differire da quella rilevata sull’animale in vita, per valutare la validità del suo impiego in ambito forense. A tal fine sono stati esaminati gli arti anteriori di undici cavalli appartenenti a cinque differenti razze. La circonferenza dello stinco è stata misurata in tre momenti: nell’animale in vita subito prima della macellazione o dell’eutanasia, cinque ore dopo la morte e, infine, dopo un periodo di conservazione a ‑20°C per 14 giorni. Gli arti sezionati nel corso delle due misurazioni post‑mortem sono stati inoltre pesati. La circonferenza media degli stinchi degli animali in vita è risultata di 24,0 ± 2,4 cm, di 22,9 ± 2,5 cm cinque ore dopo la morte e di 22,4 ± 2,3 cm dopo conservazione a ‑20°C per 14 giorni. La differenza tra queste misure si è rivelata statisticamente significativa (P < 0,001). Tra la misurazione effettuata nell’immediato post‑mortem e quella successiva allo scongelamento è stato inoltre registrato un significativo calo del peso medio degli arti sezionati, pari al 9,3% (P < 0,001). Secondo questo studio, la validità della misurazione della circonferenza dello stinco in ambito forense risulta essere limitata dato che la rilevazione post‑mortem, anche a distanza di poche ore dal decesso dell’animale, sottostima la circonferenza misurata nell’animale in vita.

Peli, A., Roccaro, M. (2018). The reliability and forensic soundness of the equine shin circumference measurement in living animals versus post‑mortem examination. VETERINARIA ITALIANA, 54(4), 281-286 [10.12834/VetIt.1497.8069.2].

The reliability and forensic soundness of the equine shin circumference measurement in living animals versus post‑mortem examination

Peli, Angelo
;
Roccaro, Mariana
2018

Abstract

Catastrophic injuries in racehorses mostly involve the metacarpal region. Although many studies describe fractures of equine limbs, few examine the relationship between bone morphometrics and musculoskeletal problems in racing horses. And yet, according to the regulation of some Italian traditional races, the shin circumference represents a qualifying prerequisite for horses to be admitted to races. This study aims to evaluate the conformity of the shin circumference measurement in living animals and in post‑mortem examinations, in order to evaluate the forensic reliability of these measurements. The right and left distal forelimbs from 11 horses of 5 different breeds were examined. The shin circumference was measured at 3 time points: in the living animal before slaughter/euthanasia, 5 hours post‑mortem, and after 14‑days of cold storage. The isolated limbs were also weighed in both of the post‑mortem examinations. In the examined sample, the mean shin circumference was 24.0 ± 2.4 cm in living animals, 22.9 ± 2.5 cm 5 hours post‑mortem, and 22.4 ± 2.3 cm after 14‑days of cold storage, with a highly significant difference between these measurements (P < 0.001). There was also a significant decrease in the limbs' weight between the 2 post‑mortem examinations (P < 0.001). According to our findings, the post‑mortem measurement significantly underestimates the in vivo dimensions of the shin circumference, even when performed a few hours after death; the forensic soundness of this parameter is therefore limited.
2018
Peli, A., Roccaro, M. (2018). The reliability and forensic soundness of the equine shin circumference measurement in living animals versus post‑mortem examination. VETERINARIA ITALIANA, 54(4), 281-286 [10.12834/VetIt.1497.8069.2].
Peli, Angelo; Roccaro, Mariana
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/661553
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