Morphological, radiographic and computed tomographic evaluation of the metatarsophalangeal joint of the one‐humped camel

Abstract

The camel digits have a complex structure with tendons, joints and ligaments. The objective of the study was to determine the anatomical features of the metatarsophalangeal joint and its puncture site in dromedary camel using anatomical dissection, radiography, computed tomography (CT) bone and soft tissue window scans and 3D reconstruction render volume of CT. The study used six adult camels of both sexes (three males and three females), aged 9-15 years (Mean ± SD equal 11.80 ± 2.59 years). The camel fetlock possesses two metatarsophalangeal joints, left and right ones. The study described in detail the bony structures, ligaments and joint capsule of the metatarsophalangeal joint. The straight sesamoidean ligament was recorded in the studied one-humped camel joints. The joint capsule exhibited two recesses: dorsal and plantar recess. This is the first study to report the dorsal recess as triangular in outline with one proximal recess and two distal recesses, and the plantar recess as having two proximal recesses and one distal recess. The soft tissues examined around the fetlock were the proper extensor tendon, superficial, deep digital flexor tendon, digital scutum, collateral ligaments and sesamoidean ligaments. The plantar and dorsal pouches were the sites of joint injection. The present findings regarding joint injection indicate the plantar approach through plantar recess to fetlock to be preferable than the dorsal one as we used the proximal sesamoid bones and suspensory ligament as landmarks to inject easily.

Computed tomographic and radiographic morphology of the pastern and coffin joints of One‐Humped Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

“…The current study described the medullary cavity of the first and second phalanges that appeared with a low density while the cortical bone was visualized with a high density (AAH, ZE, & MG, 2019;Alsafy et al, 2018).…”

“…The superficial and deep digital flexor tendons appeared as a moderate density surrounded by a low-density digital tendon sheaths. The deep digital flexor tendon appeared as a semi-circular structure and became flattened distal to the pastern joint, and it inserted on the flexor surface of the third phalanx and separated from the underlying digital cushion by the navicular bursa that well defined with a low density (AAH et al, 2019;Alsafy et al, 2018;El-Shafey & Kassab, 2013).…”

Description of normal head structures of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) by magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, and cross-sectional anatomy

“…In this study, the cadaver heads of the camel were used for CT and MRI examination due to lack of their large fitting Magnetom that contain the size of the camel [ 6 , 24 ]. In addition, the excellent resolution could not be obtained due to the reason of lack of antennas specific for camels [ 19 ]. This explains why the MR and CT images were not of sharp spatial definition.…”

“…In camel, there are few studies described the normal nasal and oral cavities by CT [ 15 ], normal temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by CT and MRI [ 16 ], normal brain and cranioencephalic structures by MRI [ 6 , 7 , 17 ], normal digits by MRI [ 18 ], normal carpus and metatarsophalangeal joints by CT [ 19 , 20 ], and normal head by CT [ 21 , 22 ]. To the author’s knowledge, there are no published data so far describing the normal MRI features of the mature camel head in comparison to their close relevant sectional anatomy.…”

Normal anatomic reference of pastern and coffin joints in Egyptian buffalo (Bubalus bubalis): A compared atlas of cross‐sectional anatomy, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography

“…However, the need for general anaesthesia and high costs limited using these techniques in veterinary clinics (Arencibia et al, ). Meanwhile, low cost‐effective MRI and CT facilities motivated several studies on different animal species; canine (Gielen, Rycke, Bree, & Simoens, ; Ober & freeman, ; Ricciardi & Lenoci, ), equine (Hevesi et al, ; Sampson & Tucker, ; Sherlock, Mair, Ireland, & Blunden, ), camel (El‐Nahas et al, ; Alsafy, El‐Gendy, & Kamal et al, ; Ibrahim, Adam, & Tawfiek, , ) and bovine (Abdellatif, Hamed, El‐Shafaey, & Eldoumani, ; Raji, Sardari, & Mohammadi, , ). However, limited studies are attended for pastern and coffin joints in buffalo.…”