Radiology for horses involves the use of imaging techniques to diagnose and monitor various conditions affecting equine health. These techniques include X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each modality provides different types of information, aiding in the evaluation of musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory issues, and abdominal problems, among others. Radiographic imaging is instrumental in identifying fractures, joint abnormalities, and dental issues. Ultrasound is often used for soft tissue evaluation and reproductive assessments. CT and MRI offer detailed cross-sectional images, enhancing the understanding of complex anatomical structures and pathologies. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the applications, advancements, and findings in the field of equine radiology.
Rice HC, Brokken MT, Hostnik ET, Bertone AL. The aim of this study was to evaluate the injection of a bone substitute material (BSM) into an impact lesion in the palmar condyle of the third metacarpal bone. Methods: This was an controlled study performed on six horses. Methods: Medial metacarpal condyles were exposed via arthrotomy and a compressive lesion created in anaesthetized horses using 80 psi (27.6 MPa) onto the articular surface ( = 12). Paired limbs were randomly selected as a control or for extra-articular injection of BSM towards the subchondral bone near the compressive lesion. Parameters of the surgical tech...
Moeller S, Patan-Zugaj B, Däullary T, Tichy A, Licka TF.Laminitis is associated with failure of the suspensory apparatus of the distal phalanx (SADP) connecting the distal phalanx to the hoof wall. The specific aim of this study was to examine in vitro whether thinning of the hoof wall leading to increased deformability influences the damage of the laminar tissue created by loading of the hoof. Paired cadaver forelimbs from twelve horses were used. For each pair, the hoof wall from one hoof was thinned by 25%; this was ascertained by radiography. The contralateral hooves were used as controls. In a material testing machine, hooves were loaded in a ...
Genton M, Vila T, Olive J, Rossignol F.To report the feasibility of standing MRI (sMRI) and document the value of sMRI in surgical planning for surgical repair of limb fractures in the horse. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Thirty-one horses with preoperative sMRI. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for fracture type, application of a polyester cast, sMRI sequences performed, technical variables, and image quality. Fracture geometry and concomitant lesions were compared between sMRI and radiography. The relative value of sMRI with regard to surgical planning was classified as minor (sMRI did not provide additional ...
Elemmawy YM, Senna NA, Abu-Seida AM, Youssef AF.Injury of suspensory ligament (SL) branch is a frequently diagnosed problem in horses of different ages and disciplines. This case reports for the first time the ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a 10-year-old draught horse with traumatic chronic SL branch desmitis of 8 months duration. The horse had a grade 3 of 5 left hindlimb lameness with a moderately hot, painful, and diffuse swelling from the tarsus till the hoof. Ultrasonography, both SL branches appeared as enlarged hyperechogenic structures with poor demarcation of their margins a...
Mariani LPR, Sampaio F, Silveira AB, Bastos LF, Weber SH, Michelotto PV.Diseases of the stifle joint remain a challenge for veterinarians. The objective of this study was to achieve a valuable acupuncture suggestive diagnosis to be considered for stifle joint diseases in horses. Thirty-nine nonlame horses involved in different activities were assessed. Acupuncture was independently performed by two evaluators. Reactions of the animal when pressurizing the point suggestive of stifle disease (PSSD), Bladder-20 and/or Bladder-21, were considered as the inclusion criteria for inclusion in the stifle group (SG, n = 31), and the animals with no reactions were assigne...
Di Filippo PA, Dias Meireles MA, Ribeiro LMF, de Lannes ST, Meireles NFT, Viana IS, Hokamura HK.In this study, the effect of early exercise, age, body weight (BW), and growth on the articular cartilage and subchondral bones of the tarsocrural joints was evaluated in 40 young Mangalarga Marchador horses allowed free choice exercise in pasture. Twenty of the horses had additional controlled exercise 3 days per week from a mean age of 30 ± 20 days until 36 months. The training program consisted of an increasing number of 15-minute gallop sprints in an oval paddock with a concrete floor covered by a thick layer of sand. BW, withers height (WH), and neck circumference were measured and bo...
Liu SJ, Wang Q, Tang HH, Bai JZ, Wang FY, Lv Z, Chen SZ, Liu JS, Hong Y, Zhang JW.Retrospective analysis. Methods: China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China. Objective: A retrospective study that documents the modalities and clarifies the heterogeneity among spinal cord injuries (SCIs) caused by trauma to the thoracolumbar vertebral junction. Methods: X-ray and MRI imaging, neurological records, and the urodynamics results of 190 patients were reviewed and used to categorize different SCI modalities. First, injuries were divided into complete and incomplete injuries using the International Standard for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. Next, the ...
Rahmani Shahraki A, Raisi A.One of the reasons of weight loss and poor performance in horses is decrease in food intake. Oral cavity problems can cause malfunctions in prehension and deglutition resulting in dysphagia. There are few published reports about a metallic foreign body disorders in the oral cavity of horses due to an important role of their flexible lip and incisor teeth in food selection and prehension. This report describes the history, clinical, hematological and radiographic findings and surgical management of a left oral wall fistula formation due to a piece of wire penetration in a pregnant mare. The wir...
Katzman SA, Spriet MP, Beck BR, Barrett MF, Hendrickson DA.A 6-year-old Quarter Horse gelding used for barrel racing was evaluated for acute onset of non-weight-bearing lameness of the left hind limb following strenuous exercise. Nuclear scintigraphic imaging revealed focal increased radiopharmaceutical uptake centrally within the left talus. Subsequent standard radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations of the tarsus failed to identify the cause of the increased radiopharmaceutical uptake; however, the lameness was definitively localized to the tarsocrural joint by intra-articular anesthesia. Subsequent MRI sequences of the left tarsus revealed a...
Varnum AT, West AB, Hendrickson DA.Competencies can guide outcomes assessment in veterinary medical education by providing a core set of specific abilities expected of new veterinary graduates. A competency-guided evaluation of Colorado State University's (CSU) equine veterinary curriculum was undertaken via an alumni survey. Published competencies for equine veterinary graduates were used to develop the survey, which was distributed to large animal alumni from CSU's Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. The results of the survey indicated areas for improvement, specifically in equine business, surgery, dentistry, and radiolog...
Edwards RA, Hermans H, Veraa S.Headshaking is a common problem in horses. The etiology is unknown but thought to involve sensory input from branches of the trigeminal nerve, some of which are within the infraorbital canal. The objective of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to describe the CT anatomy and variations of the infraorbital canal in horses with local disease processes and normal horses, and to examine associations between those findings and headshaking. Computed tomography scans were reviewed and morphological changes of the infraorbital canal were described. Presence of changes was then tested for asso...
Johnson JP, Peckham RK, Rowan C, Wolfe A, O'Leary JM.Blinded techniques to desensitize the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) include intraoral, angled, and vertical extraoral approaches with reported success rates of 100%, 73%, and 59%, respectively. It has not been determined whether an ultrasound-guided extraoral approach is feasible. Further, the fascicular nature of the inferior alveolar and lingual nerves of the horse has not been described. The objectives of this study were to describe a low-volume ultrasound-guided vertical extraoral inferior alveolar nerve block technique and to describe the fascicular nature of these nerves. An ultrasound-g...
Buck AM, Hunt RJ.To describe the surgical correction of a closed meningoencephalocele in a thoroughbred filly. Methods: Case report. Methods: One thoroughbred filly, 1.5 months old at the time of surgery. Methods: A meningoencephalocele was identified at birth and diagnosed with radiography and MRI. The abnormal tissue was excised and submitted for histopathology, the dura was closed, and the defect in the skull was corrected with a titanium mesh. Results: Histopathology confirmed the presence of neural parenchyma consisting of neurons and glial cells. The filly remained without neurologic deficits 7 month...
The aim of the present study is to assess an arthrographic technique based on the access to the equine tarsus via distal intertarsal and on the existence and frequency of communication between distal and tarsocrural joints in the tarsus of Crioulo horses. Methods: Fifty Crioulo horses of both sexes from 3 to 8 years old were included in the experiment. Animals with radiographic signs of tarsal osteoarthritis and joint space loss were excluded from the experiment. Contrast was injected in the distal intertarsal joint and radiographs were taken at two different times - Time 0 (after contra...
Niinistö KE, Määttä MA, Ruohoniemi MO, Paulaniemi M, Raekallio MR.Clinical problems related to intestinal sand accumulation in horses are common in certain geographic areas, but the clinical signs appear nonspecific and the course of the accumulation remains somewhat obscure. This study examined the association between the presence and size of intestinal sand accumulations and owner-reported clinical signs, management, and feeding practices, as well as behavioral patterns in horses with radiographic diagnosis of sand accumulation. Owners of the horses filled in an online questionnaire. A total of 447 responses met the inclusion criteria. The size of the sand...
Nelson BB, Mäkelä JTA, Lawson TB, Patwa AN, Barrett MF, McIlwraith CW, Hurtig MB, Snyder BD, Moorman VJ, Grinstaff MW, Goodrich LR, Kawcak CE.Cationic agent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (cationic CECT) characterizes articular cartilage ex vivo, however, its capacity to detect post-traumatic injury is unknown. The study objectives were to correlate cationic CECT attenuation with biochemical, mechanical and histological properties of cartilage and morphologic computed tomography (CT) measures of bone, and to determine the ability of cationic CECT to distinguish subtly damaged from normal cartilage in an in vivo equine model. Mechanical impact injury was initiated in equine femoropatellar joints in vivo to establish subtle ...
Horbal A, Smith S, Dixon PM. Equine maxillary cheek teeth infundibulae are frequently affected by developmental and acquired disorders, but the imaging, gross, and histological features of normal and abnormal infundibulae remain incompletely understood. To perform MicroCT, gross examination, and histology on sectioned teeth and compare the imaging and anatomical findings. original study. Eight maxillary cheek teeth of different ages and with varying grades of unilateral ( = 5) or bilateral ( = 3) occlusal infundibular caries were extracted from equine heads obtained from an abattoir. The teeth were imaged by MicroCT,...
Mouloodi S, Rahmanpanah H, Burvill C, Davies HMS.Shape is a key factor in influencing mechanical responses of bones. Considered to be smart viscoelastic and inhomogeneous materials, bones are stimulated to change shape (model and remodel) when they experience changes in the compressive strain distribution. Using reverse engineering techniques via computer-aided design (CAD) is crucial to create a virtual environment to investigate the significance of shape in biomechanical engineering. Nonetheless, data are lacking to quantify the accuracy of generated models and to address errors in finite element analysis (FEA). In the present study, rever...
Horbal A, Smith S, Dixon PM. Equine maxillary cheek teeth infundibulae are frequently affected by developmental and acquired disorders, but the computed tomographic (CT) imaging features of normal and abnormal infundibulae remain incompletely understood. To examine infundibulae with various grades of occlusal caries and control teeth by standard CT in order to assess the prevalence, type and location of subocclusal infundibular lesions present. original study. One hundred maxillary cheek teeth, including 82 with, and 18 without infundibular occlusal caries, were extracted from horses of different ages and imaged by s...
Canonici P, Beccati F, Canonici F, Pepe M.To develop a reliable method for injection of the tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint of horses through a medial approach and to characterize anatomy of the synovial recesses of the TMT joint with CT. Methods: 13 pairs of fresh cadaveric equine tarsi. Methods: TMT joints were assessed with radiography and CT. Twelve pairs of TMT joints were assigned to an experienced veterinarian (8 joints) or veterinary student (16 joints) for injection with contrast medium through a medial or a lateral approach. Every TMT joint was then reexamined radiographically and with CT to assess diffusion of contrast medium. ...
Steel CM, Collins VL, Hance SR, Adkins AR, Hitchens PL.Veterinarians are required to interpret the significance of radiographic findings for sale, soundness and future racing performance of weanling and yearling Thoroughbreds. We investigated the prevalence and radiographic appearance of slab fractures of the third (T3) and central tarsal (Tc) bones. Methods: Weanling and yearling horses with complete or incomplete T3 or Tc fracture were identified by searching a database of radiographs. The prevalence and radiographic appearance at initial diagnosis and after continued pasture turnout, as well as prognosis for racing, of fractures of T3 and Tc we...
Hoaglund EL, Seabaugh KA, Selberg KT, Hess A, Bass L.Centrodistal joint injection is an important component of lameness evaluation and treatment. Successful injection is poor for the medial approach. The dorsolateral approach is an alternative but has not been validated with contrast medium. Radiograph-guidance has not been studied to determine its necessity or benefit for either approach. Objective: To determine if the dorsolateral approach to the centrodistal joint is more successful than the medial approach. To determine if radiograph-guidance is beneficial. Methods: Prospective, randomised study. Methods: Three operators injected 98 centrodi...
Robert MP, Stemmet GP, Smit Y.Bilateral paranasal sinus diseases are rarely reported in horses. Treatment using a bilateral frontonasal bone flap on a standing, regular-sized adult horse has not been described previously. A 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding was evaluated for bilateral mucopurulent nasal discharge. Radiographic, endoscopic and computed tomographic examinations revealed bilateral sinus pathological changes consistent with an ethmoid haematoma involving the maxillary and frontal sinuses. A bilateral frontonasal bone flap was created under standing sedation and local anaesthesia. A tracheotomy was performed ini...
Mizobe F, Nomura M, Kanai K, Ishikawa Y, Yamada K.Six Thoroughbred racehorses with palmar process fractures of the distal phalanx were evaluated with standing magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI). In all the cases, the fractures were detectable on T1-weighted images and fat-suppressed images. Furthermore, multi-planar reconstruction images were useful for assessing the articular involvement of the fractures. Follow-up sMRI was obtainable in 3 cases, which revealed that the area of high signal intensity on fat-suppressed images decreased over time as symptoms improved. Our findings support the use of sMRI for the detailed evaluation of distal pha...
Walmsley EA, Jackson M, Wells-Smith L, Whitton RC.Subchondral bone injury at the palmar/plantar aspect of the condyles of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone (MC/MT3) commonly causes lameness and poor performance in racehorses. Injury occurs due to repetitive loading, the magnitude of which may be influenced by the position of the distal phalanx relative to the ground surface, i.e. the solar angle. The association of solar angle and injury at the palmar/plantar condyles of distal MC/MT3 therefore warrants investigation. Objective: Investigate the relationship between solar angle and radiopharmaceutical uptake at the palmar/plantar aspect of ...
Doering AK, Reesink HL, Luedke LK, Moore C, Nixon AJ, Fortier LA, Ducharme NG, Ross MW, Levine DG, Richardson DW, Stefanovski D, Ortved KF.To determine the prognosis for racing of horses surgically treated for slab fractures of the third carpal bone (C3). Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: Horses (n = 125) surgically treated for C3 slab fractures. Methods: Medical records of horses surgically treated for dorsal or sagittal C3 fractures were reviewed for age, sex, breed, limb, fracture type, degree of cartilage damage, and surgical treatment. Radiographs were evaluated to determine fracture depth, width, and displacement. Osteophytes, C3 lysis, and fragmentation were scored. Racing performance was obtained from online...
Rajão MD, Leite CS, Nogueira K, Godoy RF, Lima EMM.The aim of this study was to understand the bone response against the exercise adaptations to reduce the occurrence of orthopedic injuries in endurance horses. To this end, the objective of the present work was to investigate how the bone adaptation on adult equines that were trained for 4-5 yr to endurance races responds to the long-term exercise of moderate intensity by comparing to non-athlete horses. For this purpose, 14 Arabian horses were selected and divided equally into two groups; a control group formed by animals that had never practiced physical activity nor been tamed and an exerci...
Salciccia A, Gougnard A, Grulke S, de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Libertiaux V, Busoni V, Sandersen C, Serteyn D.The ultrasonographic images of the gastrointestinal tract in horses can be influenced by fasting and sedation but the proper effect of general anaesthesia (GA) on them has not been determined yet. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GA on ultrasonographic images of the gastrointestinal tract in horses and to compare these effects with a clinical evaluation. Twenty horses undergoing non-abdominal surgeries were evaluated by ultrasonography before and 4 times within 24 h after GA. Each ultrasonographic exam focused on the stomach, the duodenum and on 5 locations on the jejunum. The fou...
Joostens Z, Evrard L, Busoni V.Lifting the contralateral forelimb (unipodal stance) is often used as a method of restraint in horses. This experimental one group pretest, posttest study was conducted to evaluate the effects of unipodal stance on quantitative radiographic parameters in equine forefeet. Seven nonlame horses were randomly selected. Lateromedial (LM) and dorsopalmar (DP) projections were acquired for both forefeet, squarely placed on blocks, using two X-ray generators. Radiographs of each foot were acquired first in a bipodal stance, immediately followed by the same radiographic projections obtained in a unipod...
Mayaki AM, Intan-Shameha AR, Noraniza MA, Mazlina M, Adamu L, Abdullah R.Back disorder is an ailment that often affects athletic and riding horses. Despite the rapidly growing equine athletic and equestrian activities, there is no documentation on the nature of equine back disorder (EBD) in Malaysian horses. The purpose of this study was to characterize EBD cases presented to University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia, between 2002 and 2017. Methods: The compilation of data was based on signalment, case history, duration of clinical signs, anatomical location of the pain, method of diagnosis, type of EBD, treatment, and outcome. The diagnosis of EBD ...
Gutierrez-Nibeyro S, Werpy N, White Ii N.Conventional imaging modalities can diagnose the source of foot pain in most cases, but have limitations in some horses, which can be overcome by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, there are no reports of the MRI appearance and prevalence of foot lesions of a large series of horses with chronic foot lameness. Methods: In the present study, 79 horses with unilateral or bilateral forelimb lameness because of chronic foot pain underwent standing low-field MRI to make a definitive diagnosis. Results: Of the 79 horses, 74 (94%) had alterations in >1 structure in the lame or lamest foo...
Rucker A.The digital venogram uses contrast radiography to evaluate the soft tissues and vasculature of the foot, thus identifying pathology attributable to laminitis. Pathology can be detected before changes appear on plain-film radiographs. When used in conjunction with clinical and radiographic findings, information gained from a venographic study informs and directs treatment. Serial venograms assess the response to treatment and help determine prognosis early in the course of therapy. If the venographic contrast pattern does not improve, either the treatment needs to be altered, or the damage is s...
O'Callaghan MW, Goulden BE.This paper describes the distinctive radiographic changes detected in the dorso-caudal lungfields of four racing thoroughbreds recently affected by exercise-induced epistaxis. A diffuse but localized increase in density was seen in all four cases, which demonstrated a variation from a predominantly alveolar density to an interstitial pattern and finally to increased bronchial markings. Evolution of the radiographic pattern of the pulmonary densities appeared to be related to the time that had elapsed since the bleeding incident. The implications of the changing pattern and site of the densitie...
Maher MA, Farghali HAM, Abdelnaby EA, Emam IA.The present study was performed on 12 heads of donkey's cadavers of both sexes for different anatomic techniques and on 20 live adult donkeys for ultrasonographic approaches of local anesthetic techniques. The aim was to achieve safe desensitization of the ear canal and tympanic membrane in addition to measuring different parameters of the structures occupying the infra-auricular parotid region. The internal auricular nerve was divided into two fine branches and constituting, at its origin, a characteristic V-shape with the caudal auricular nerve. The styloid process of auricular cartilage was...
Dixon J, Smith K, Perkins J, Sherlock C, Mair T, Weller R.Melanomas are one of the most common neoplasms in the horse and are frequently found in the head region. There is a genetic predisposition in horses with a gray hair coat. Computed tomography (CT) is frequently used in referral practice to evaluate the equine head but there are few reports describing the CT appearance of melanomas in this location. The aim of this retrospective, case series study was to describe characteristics in a group of horses with confirmed disease. Case records from two referral hospitals were reviewed, and 13 horses were identified that had undergone CT of the head, wi...
Wittwer C, Hamann H, Rosenberger E, Distl O.This study aimed to quantify the factors associated with the prevalence of the radiological signs of osteochondrosis (OC) and osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD) in South German Coldblood (SGC) horses. The prevalence of OC and OCD in fetlock and hock joints was analysed in 167 young coldblood horses with a mean age of 14 months. The presence of at least one osteochondrotic lesion (OC) in fetlock or hock joints was documented for 61.7% of the horses and 26.9% of the horses had osseus fragments. Osteochondrotic findings at the dorsal aspect of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bo...
Lepeule J, Bareille N, Robert C, Valette JP, Jacquet S, Blanchard G, Denoix JM, Seegers H.The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors for the severity of Juvenile OsteoChondral Conditions (JOCC) in limbs of French foals. Twenty-one farms in Normandy, France, were sampled and enrolled in a cohort study including 378 foals from three breeds, followed from the 8th month of pregnancy of the mares until the foals were approximately 6months old. Data on growth, feeding practices and exercise conditions were regularly collected. The carpus, the front and hind digits, the hock and the stifle of the foals were radiographed at the end of follow-up. JOCC severity in each foal was d...
Valdés-Martínez A.Computed tomographic arthrography is an imaging technique used for the evaluation of the internal structures of a joint, especially the soft tissues and subchondral bone defects that may communicate with the joint space. Clinical indications, technical aspects, principles of image interpretation, and advantages and disadvantages of this imaging technique for the evaluation of the equine stifle joint are discussed in this article.
Ostblom L, Lund C, Melsen F.A histological investigation of navicular bones from 8 horses with navicular disease was carried out to investigate the aetiology of the radiological findings. Two of the horses were double labelled with tetracycline before slaughter in order to assess the vitality of the diseased navicular bone. The examinations revealed no evidence of loss of vitality in the diseased bone areas or in surrounding tissues. A very high rate of remodelling indicated by resorption and formation of bone was present in all cases. This was shown microscopically by the high number of osteoclasts and osteoblasts prese...
Beccati F, Chalmers HJ, Dante S, Lotto E, Pepe M.Osteochondrosis lesions commonly occur on the femoral trochlear ridges in horses and radiography and ultrasonography are routinely used to diagnose these lesions. However, poor correlation has been found between radiographic and arthroscopic findings of affected trochlear ridges. Interobserver agreement for ultrasonographic diagnoses and correlation between ultrasonographic and arthroscopic findings have not been previously described. Objectives of this study were to describe diagnostic sensitivity and interobserver agreement of radiography and ultrasonography for detecting and grading osteoch...
Ebert LC, Schön CA, Ruder TD, Thali MJ, Hatch GM.Horse kicks are rare incidents-especially, if they end in fatality. In this case, a 13-year-old girl collapsed 3 minutes after sustaining a kick to the chest from a pony. Resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful. Postmortem computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed before autopsy.Imaging revealed a 3-cm long laceration of the left ventricle and a large pericardial effusion. Using segmentation techniques, the amount of blood inside the pericardium was determined. These findings correlated well with the autopsy findings. Pericardial tamponade was determined at autopsy to ...
Casey MB, Pearson GR, Perkins JD, Tremaine WH.The most prevalent type of equine dental pulpitis due to apical infection is not associated with coronal fractures or periodontal disease. The pathogenesis of this type of pulpitis is not fully understood. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used to investigate equine dental disorders. However, gross, tomographic and histopathological changes in equine dental pulpitis have not been compared previously. Objective: To compare gross, CT and histological appearances of sectioned mandibular cheek teeth extracted from horses with clinical signs of pulpitis without coronal fractures or periodont...
Go LM, Barton AK, Ohnesorge B.Various head and neck positions in sport horses are significant as they can interfere with upper airway flow mechanics during exercise. Until now, research has focused on subjectively described head and neck positions. The objective of this study was to develop an objective, reproducible method for quantifying head and neck positions accurately. Results: Determining the angle between the ridge of the nose and the horizontal plane (ground angle) together with the angle between the ridge of nose and the line connecting the neck and the withers (withers angle) has provided values that allow preci...
Vink-Nooteboom M, Junker K, van den Ingh TS, Dik KJ.Cholesterinic granulomas are tumor-like masses in the choroid plexuses of horses. This report describes the computed tomographic findings in four horses with cholesterinic granulomas, including the clinical and the pathologic features. All four horses had bilateral cholesterinic granulomas in the lateral ventricles. Computed tomographic images clearly delineated the masses, the opacity of the granulomas, and the enhancement pattern after intravenous bolus injection of contrast medium; these factors varied considerably. Additional CT findings were symmetric or asymmetric widening of the lateral...
Cleary OB, Trumble TN, Merritt KA, Brown MP.To investigate the effects of exercise and osteochondral injury on concentrations of carboxy-terminal telopeptide fragments of type II collagen (CTX-II) in synovial fluid (SF) and serum of Thoroughbred racehorses and to compare findings with radiographic and arthroscopic scores of joint injury severity. Methods: 78 Thoroughbreds with (n = 38) and without (40) osteochondral injury. Methods: Serum and metacarpophalangeal or carpal joint SF samples were collected from noninjured horses before and at the end of 5 to 6 months of race training (pre- and postexercise samples, respectively) and from h...
Addis A, Canciani E, Campagnol M, Colombo M, Frigerio C, Recupero D, Dellavia C, Morroni M.Different xenogeneic inorganic bone substitutes are currently used as bone grafting materials in oral and maxillo-facial surgery. The aim of the present study was to determine the physicochemical properties and the in vivo performance of an anorganic equine bone (AEB) substitute. AEB is manufactured by applying a process involving heating at >300 °C with the aim of removing all the antigens and the organic components. AEB was structurally characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier-transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectros...
Kosch PC, Koterba AM, Coons TJ, Webb AI.Developments in evaluation of newborn foals with respiratory distress are discussed. Major causes of respiratory distress are outlined and discussed in terms of the similar respiratory signs exhibited by foals with this clinical syndrome. History, physical examination, clinical pathology, chest radiography and blood gas analyses are discussed as important elements of the evaluation of the condition of these foals. Foals with respiratory disease are grouped into three major categories on the basis of clinical signs and arterial blood gas profiles. The evaluation of foals with respiratory distre...
Ramzan PH, Palmer L, Powell SE.Fracture of the metacarpal/tarsal condyle is usually preceded by prodromal pathology. Early recognition of injury is desirable to minimise the risk of serious breakdown; however, the clinical and diagnostic characteristics of unicortical condylar fractures have been poorly documented to date. Objective: To describe the clinical, imaging and outcome features of racehorses in first opinion practice diagnosed with short unicortical fracture of the metacarpal/tarsal condyle. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: All flat racehorses sustaining a unicortical condylar fracture while under the ...
Ruohoniemi M, Kaikkonen R, Raekallio M, Luukkanen L.This retrospective study consisted of 14 horses (age 6 weeks-12 years) with radiographically evident sand accumulations cranioventrally in the abdomen and clinical signs suggestive of sand enteropathy. The horses were treated medically and resolution of sand was monitored radiographically. Routine treatment consisted of psyllium mucilloid, combined with magnesium sulphate and/or mineral oilif needed. Initially, the number, size and shape of the sand accumulations showed large variation and the response to therapy was not predictable based on the initial appearance of the accumulation. In 2 foa...
Bedenice D, Heuwieser W, Brawer R, Solano M, Rand W, Paradis MR.A total of 207 thoracic radiographs obtained from 128 foals were evaluated to assess the impact of pulmonary radiographic pattern, distribution, and severity of pulmonary changes on short-term survival of neonatal foals. The association between selected clinical variables and the radiographic manifestation of neonatal respiratory disease was also investigated. The evaluation of interstitial and alveolar-interstitial radiographic patterns within the caudodorsal, caudoventral, and cranioventral lung regions proved to be highly reliable between viewers in the study. A diagnosis of systemic inflam...
Cruz VC, Sommardahl CS, Chapman EA, Fry MM, Schumacher J.A 12-year-old 500-kg (1,100-lb) American Quarter Horse mare was evaluated because of chronic mucopurulent, bloody discharge from the left nostril, inspiratory dyspnea, and respiratory noise. Results: The horse had severe inspiratory dyspnea and stertorous respiration with no airflow from the left nostril. A temporary tracheostomy was performed. Endoscopy revealed a tan mass protruding from the left middle nasal meatus into the left common nasal meatus; it extended caudally into the nasopharynx and around the caudal edge of the nasal septum into the right nasal cavity. Radiographically, a soft ...
Stewart S, Richardson D, Boston R, Schaer TP.To determine (1) survival to discharge of horses with radial fractures (excluding osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the radius and stress fractures); and (2) risk factors affecting survival to hospital discharge in conservative and surgically managed fractures. Methods: Case series. Methods: Horses (n = 54). Methods: Medical records (1990-June 2012) and radiographs of horses admitted with radial fracture were reviewed. Horses with osteochondral fragmentation of the distal aspect of the radius or stress fractures were excluded. Evaluated risk factors were age, fracture configu...
Bertuglia A, Basano I, Pagliara E, Bottegaro NB, Spinella G, Bullone M.To compare the effects of tiludronate disodium and 3 other medical treatments on clinical and radiographic findings and biomarkers of disease progression in horses with osteoarthritis of the fetlock joint. 100 Standardbred racehorses with spontaneous traumatic injury of the fetlock joint. Horses were retrospectively grouped by whether they received tiludronate IV or triamcinolone acetonide and hyaluronan, polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, or interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein intra-articularly. Data were collected on clinical, radiographic, and ultrasonographic findings and results for se...
Townsend NB, Cotton JC, Barakzai SZ.To (1) describe a tangential radiographic projection of the equine temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and (2) optimize the radiographic angle and determine its use in standing sedated horses. Methods: Descriptive study. Methods: Cadaveric equine skulls (n=11); 8 horses with a history of quidding or headshaking. Methods: Tangential radiographic projections were taken of a TMJ of a cadaveric skull before and after intra-articular injection of radiographic contrast. Additional tangential radiographic projections were taken after TMJ dissection and placement of a wire along the articular surface of the...
Dik KJ, van den Broek J.From progeny lists of 30 Dutch Warmblood sires, 586 3-year-old females by these stallions were randomly selected, each progeny group aimed at 20 animals for statistical reasons. The front feet of the sires and female progeny were examined radiographically using lateromedial and dorsopalmar upright pedal projections. The radiological features associated with navicular disease were classified 0-4 using a standardised classification, grades 3 and 4 representing the more severe changes. The shape of the proximal articular border of the navicular bone outline on the dorsopalmar view was classified ...
Weller R, Livesey L, Maierl J, Nuss K, Bowen IM, Cauvin ER, Weaver M, Schumacher J, May SA.Scintigraphy, with 99mTechnetium methylenediphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) and 99mTc-labelled leucocytes, was compared to radiography in the diagnosis of dental disease in the horse in a prospective case-controlled study, comprising 30 horses with clinical signs of dental disease and 30 control horses. In each case, right and left lateral, ventral and dorsal soft tissue and bone phase scintigraphic images were obtained after i.v. injection of 1 GBq/100 kg bwt 99mTc-MDP, using a gamma camera. The same views were acquired in 10 horses with clinical signs of dental disease and 12 control horses after in...
Anastasiou A, Skioldebrand E, Ekman S, Hall LD.The distal row of carpal bones (C2, C3, and C4) from eight left intercarpal joints--four from Standardbred Trotters and four from Swedish Warmblood horses--were used to assess the potential of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to detect cartilage and bone lesions. The joints used in the study were classified by macroscopic and radiographic examinations as having normal, mild, moderate, or severe articular cartilage lesions and bone sclerosis. Those classifications correlated well with the appearance of the MR images. Bone sclerosis in the MR images was observed as regions of decreased signal int...
Nixon AJ, Fortier LA, Goodrich LR, Ducharme NG.Debridement of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) cartilage lesions results in fibrocartilage and imperfect hyaline repair tissue, and forms a permanent irregularity to the subchondral bone plate. Objective: To evaluate the clinical, radiographic and outcome effects of OCD cartilage flap reattachment for select lesions as an alternative to OCD debridement. Objective: Separated cartilage flaps resulting from OCD lesions may be re-incorporated into the hyaline cartilage surface by reattachment rather than debridement and removal. Methods: Resorbable polydioxanone pins were used to reattach OCD flap...
Hoppe F.A total of 106 Standardbred Trotters and 27 Swedish Warmblood horses, with a radiological diagnosis of osteochondrosis dissecans, were studied over a six year period. The majority were young horses. No statistical difference in frequency between the sexes was demonstrated. In both breeds osteochondrosis was most common in the hock joints, the site of predilection being the distal dorsal tip of the intermediate tibial ridge. On radiographs the lesions of the hock joints were graded on a scale from 0 to 5 according to size, number and localisation of defects and visible loose bodies. The sizes o...
Ravanetti P, Lechartier A, Hamon M, Zucca E.In the last 30 years, several treatments have been proposed to treat subchondral cystic lesions (SCLs) but there have been no randomised studies to compare different methods and there is no consensus as to the optimal treatment. Objective: To evaluate a biocompatible absorbable implant for the treatment of SCLs in young horses in different anatomical locations. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses with SCLs were treated with debridement through a trans-cortical extra-articular approach and an absorbable implant was inserted in the cavity. Clinical and radiographic follow-up was...
