Smartphone-Based Pelvic Movement Asymmetry Measures for Clinical Decision Making in Equine Lameness Assessment

Marunova, Eva; Dod, Leea; Witte, Stefan; Pfau, Thilo

Abstract

Visual evaluation of hindlimb lameness in the horse is challenging. Objective measurements, simultaneous to visual assessment, are used increasingly to aid clinical decision making. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of pelvic movement asymmetry with lameness scores (UK scale 0–10) of one experienced veterinarian. Absolute values of pelvic asymmetry measures, quantifying differences between vertical minima (AbPDMin), maxima (AbPDMax) and upward movement amplitudes (AbPDUp), were recorded during straight-line trot with a smartphone attached to the sacrum (n = 301 horses). Overall, there was a significant difference between lameness grades for all three asymmetry measures (p < 0.001). Five pair-wise differences (out of 10) were significant for AbPDMin (p ≤ 0.02) and seven for AbPDMax (p ≤ 0.03) and AbPDUp (p ≤ 0.02). Receiver operating curves assessed sensitivity and specificity of asymmetry measures against lameness scores. AbPDUp had the highest discriminative power (area under curve (AUC) = 0.801–0.852) followed by AbPDMax (AUC = 0.728–0.813) and AbPDMin (AUC = 0.688–0.785). Cut-off points between non-lame (grade 0) and lame horses (grades 1–4) with a minimum sensitivity of 75% were identified as AbPDUp ≥ 7.5 mm (67.6% specificity), AbPDMax ≥ 4.5 mm (51.9% specificity) and AbPDMin ≥ 2.5 mm (33.3% specificity). In conclusion, pelvic upward movement amplitude difference (AbPDUp) was the asymmetry parameter with the highest discriminative power in this study.

Citation

Marunova, E., Dod, L., Witte, S., & Pfau, T. (2021). Smartphone-Based Pelvic Movement Asymmetry Measures for Clinical Decision Making in Equine Lameness Assessment. Animals, 11(6), 1665. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061665

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 30, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jun 3, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 3, 2021
• Deposit Date: Aug 10, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 19, 2021
• Journal: Animals
• Print ISSN: 2076-2615
• Electronic ISSN: 2076-2615
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1665
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061665
• Keywords: General Veterinary; Animal Science and Zoology
• Public URL: https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1550449