The Palmar Curve

The "Palmar Metric"  A New Measure of Foot Health

A new measure, the palmar-metric, which gives a measure of the volume of the concavity on the solar side of the equine coffin bone, may be helpful in measuring the health of the hoof and assessing the effect of environmental factors and age on the coffin bone.

Radiographic assessment of the equine foot has been part of the veterinary evaluation for over 70 years. Multiple radiographic projections are used to thoroughly evaluate the bones of the digit so an opinion can be rendered regarding the presence of pathology, as well as, the nature and severity of that pathology. In the equine digit, remodeling of the distal phalange is an important indicator of the overall health of the foot. Recently, the authors have investigated a new method based on the LM radiograph of the equine digit which allows us to estimate the relative ‘flatness’ or‘ cuppiness’ of the solar surface of the pedal bone. Read More....