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.
ALEXANDER F, BENZIE D.1. The disposition and surface relations of the alimentary tract of the foal have been studied radiographically.
2. The rate of progress of a barium meal through the digestive tract was determined. The barium traversed the stomach and ileum of the weaned foal faster than that of the suckling foal, but was longer retained in the cæcum and ventral colon of the weaned foal.
PERUTZ MF.A complete three-dimensional Patterson synthesis of haemoglobin has been calculated, giving the distribution of vector density in thirty-one sections through the unit cell. The sections show certain concentrations of vector density which can be interpreted in terms of polypeptide chain structure. The following are the conclusions tentatively arrived at on the evidence described in this paper. The haemoglobin molecule resembles a cylinder of 57 angstrom diameter and 34 angstrom height, which consists of an assembly of polypeptide chains running parallel to the base of the cylinder. The chains s...
A 4-week old Quarter Horse filly was evaluated for abnormal gait and lateral deviation of the cervical spine. Physical examination findings prompted radiographs and computed tomography of the thoracic vertebral column which revealed hypoplasia of several thoracic vertebral bodies and resultant scoliosis of the thoracic vertebral column and deviation of the left and right hemithoraces and associated ribs. Collectively, radiography and computed tomography provided an accurate description of the vertebral malformations resulting in scoliosis in this foal.
Four horses were evaluated because of hind limb lameness. Two had a distinct gait abnormality at the walk characterized by lateral rotation of the point of the calcaneus and medial rotation of the toe during the stance phase. Nuclear scintigraphy revealed a focal area of intense radioisotope uptake in the caudodistal aspect of the femur in all 4 horses, and 3 of the horses had a corresponding proliferative reaction on the caudodistal cortex of the femur on radiographs. In all 4 horses, a diagnosis of injury to the origin of the gastrocnemius muscle was made. Three of the horses returned to ath...
The research article describes the treatment, recovery process, and prognosis of a 2-month old Quarter Horse, who suffered from severe lameness in the left forelimb due to an avulsion-type fracture […]
Jasiński T, Turek B, Kaczorowski M, Brehm W, Skierbiszewska K, Domino M.The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a unique joint that enables mandibular movement. Temporomandibular diseases (TMDs) impair joint function, leading to more or less specific clinical signs. Objective: To compile and disseminate clinical data and research findings from existing publications on equine TMD. Methods: Systematic review. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, literature searches were conducted in PUBMED, Scopus, and Web of Knowledge. The inclusion criteria covered case reports and research articles on equine TMDs. The selected records were grouped considering septic TMJ arthri...
Baville E, Carstanjen B, Thomas-Cancian A, Calgaro A, Bonnet N, Tiret L, Gache V, Abitbol M.Supernumerary digits, or polydactyly, have been described in various species including humans, wild and domestic animals. In horses, it represents the most common congenital limb malformation, which has only been described in isolated cases or nuclear families. Molecular aetiology has not been reported. Objective: To characterise the phenotype of a non-syndromic pre-axial polydactyly in a horse family and to decipher the inheritance pattern. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Forty-three members of the family including a previously reported polydactyl case were recruited. Available clinica...
Drahonovska A, O'Neill HD. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the need for flexed radiographs of the proximal medial trochlear ridge (PMTR) after trauma involving medial tarsus; (2) to evaluate outcome following arthroscopic removal of traumatic osteochondral fragments (TOCF) resulting from direct injury to PMTR. Methods: Records of patients with wounds to the medial tarsus were searched and those with TOCF of the PMTR included. Patient history, fracture etiology, preoperative diagnostics, and intraoperative findings were documented. Postoperative performance data were collected using Thoroughbred R...
Domańska-Kruppa N, Stefanik E, Wierzbicka M, Kleinpeter A.Cervical spine injuries that impact young horses and foals can result in mild to severe neurological signs or even result in sudden death. There are only a few reports on conservative treatment options for this condition in the scientific literature. If the condition is left untreated, it can lead to the development of degenerative joint disease, resulting in chronic neurological symptoms and discomfort. We present the case of a two-day-old Arabian foal that showed signs of ataxia following a neck injury, being the result of cervical spine subluxation. Radiological examination revealed a dislo...
Kerbert MP, le Jeune SS, Philips KL, Shaw KL, Erickson CA, Espinosa-Mur P.Back pain is a common cause of poor performance in horses. However, the relationship between clinical signs and radiographic abnormalities is unclear. The aim of this study was to report radiographic findings of spinous processes in a population of Warmblood jumping horses and their association with performance. This was a descriptive observational study. One hundred Warmblood jumping horses (competing fence height: median 1.35 m, mean 1.3 m, range 0.90m-1.60 m), with no observed lameness and neurological signs, competing in 2018 were selected. Radiographs of spinous processes of the thoracolu...
Son JK, De Paz P, Kim J, Sanaei R, Ryu S, Bailey S, Davies HMS.Changes in the third metacarpal (MC3) mid-diaphyseal dimensions were measured radiographically in young Thoroughbred racehorses through race training and found to be associated with a higher risk of shin soreness. However, it is still unclear whether such negative MC3 morphologies are set congenitally or through development. Objective: To quantify MC3 bone dimensional changes through growth. Methods: Longitudinal. Methods: Twenty privately owned Thoroughbred foals were radiographed bimonthly from birth to 14 months of age. Four linear MC3 parameters (proximodistal MC3 length, mid-diaphyseal do...
Connaughton MT, MacDonald EJ, Ireland JL, Rocchigiani G, Stack JD.Caudal wedge ostectomy has not been investigated for overriding or impinging spinous processes (SPs). Objective: To establish the feasibility of caudal wedge ostectomy and compare measures of surgical trauma and error between hypothetical caudal and cranial wedge ostectomies on SPs of different inclinations. Methods: Experimental, method comparison study. Methods: Computed tomography and caudal wedge ostectomy surgery were performed on four cadavers. Observations, technical difficulties, and surgical errors were recorded. Radiographs from 67 horses with overriding/impinging SPs were reviewed. ...
Turek B, Pawlikowski M, Jankowski K, Borowska M, Skierbiszewska K, Jasiński T, Domino M.In veterinary medicine, conventional radiography is the first-choice method for most diagnostic imaging applications in both small animal and equine practice. One direction in its development is the integration of bone density evaluation and artificial intelligence-assisted clinical decision-making, which is expected to enhance and streamline veterinarians' daily practices. One such decision-support method is k-means clustering, a machine learning and data mining technique that can be used clinically to classify radiographic signs into healthy or affected clusters. The study aims to investigat...
Schollmeyer M, Liebler-Tenorio EM, Felton C, Kohl S, Ulrich R.A 34-year-old Haflinger gelding presented with a unilateral, expansile, intranasal mass that regrew after partial excision. After euthanasia, a large pedunculated mass that originated from the left caudal maxillary sinus and obliterated the left nasal cavity was seen by radiological and macroscopic examination. Histopathology revealed a poorly cellular, expansile, well-vascularized neoplasm composed of a loosely arranged meshwork of spindle cells and collagen fibres. Spindle cells were immunopositive for alpha-smooth muscle actin and occasionally for vimentin, whereas endothelial cells immunol...
Kirkpatrick CJ, Ernst NS, Trumble TN.Injury to the collateral ligament (CL) of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) is recognized as a source of lameness in horses. Intralesional injection has been advocated to increase return to performance. This study was a proof-of-concept study in standing horses to evaluate success of a palmar radiographic-guided approach for injecting insertions of the DIPJ CLs previously described in cadaver limbs. Horses were sedated, nerve blocked, and placed on wooden blocks with the limb to be injected staggered approximately 20cm cranially to the other limb. The DIPJ CL insertion was injected, usin...
England D, Newsom L, White C, McKenzie E.Site selection for cervical stabilization surgery in horses with spinal ataxia frequently relies on measurements derived from radiographic myelography. A variety of measurement criteria exist and can provide conflicting results. The main objectives of this study were to assess the correlation between two commonly used myelographic measures, dorsal contrast column reduction (DCCR) and dural diameter reduction (DDR), and their association with previously selected operative sites in a population of horses operated at a tertiary clinic. Secondary objectives were to determine if articular process j...
Mendes RP, Lima AE, da Cunha R, Bittar MJ, Vasconcelos CC, Piñeros DDV, Corrêa RR.Radiographic examination of the skull is a well-established and indispensable procedure for the diagnostic evaluation of dental and paranasal sinus disorders in horses. Complementary projections make significant contributions to radiographic diagnosis in nasal conchae disorders. This article describes a complementary radiographic projection designed for the evaluation of the conchal sinuses and bullae in horses. Six equine cadaveric heads were used. Specimens were dissected, and openings were created in the ventral and dorsal nasal conchae for the introduction of radiopaque material. The new r...
Singh A, Johnson T, Wotman K, Leary D.Veterinary personnel exposure due to scattered x rays, when present during superficial radiation treatment (SRT), was evaluated. Veterinary personnel presence is needed during SRT to minimize the degree of required aesthesia to horses. Animal treatment was simulated, and exposure rates determined for 50, 70, and 100 kV x rays using eight different SRT applicators. Exposure rates at the surface of a solid water phantom (SWP) phantom ranged from 3.9 mR h-1 to 396 mR h-1 for 50 kV, from 41 mR h-1 to 2,880 mR h-1 for 70 kV, and from 235 mR h-1 to 7,500 mR h-1, for 100 kV, respectively. A horse pha...
Vaughan B, McKerney ER, Wollenberger C, Cloninger A, Spriet M, Galuppo L, Stover SM.Humeral stress fractures in racehorses can progress to catastrophic fracture if unrecognised. Scintigraphy is the gold standard diagnostic technique but is limited by accessibility and cost. It was hypothesised that ultrasonography could be used to visualise caudoproximal humeral stress fractures. Objective: To determine the utility of ultrasonography to identify caudoproximal humeral stress fractures in racehorses. Methods: Clinical case series. Methods: Seven racehorses that had a clinical history consistent with the presence of a humeral stress fracture were examined using humeral ultrasono...
Hellige M, Schröder C, Seehusen F, Cavalleri JM, Rohn K, Stadler P, Geburek F.Computed tomographic myelography (CTM) and radiographic myelography (RxM) are diagnostic for extradural spinal cord compression, but knowledge about the contrast distribution in flexion and normal position of nonaffected horses is lacking. Objective: (1) To determine the inter- and intravertebral ratios at C3-C4 of CTM in neutral and flexed positions in Warmbloods. (2) To compare the diameters of the spinal cord and the contrast columns at C3-C4 between neutral and flexed positions in CTM and RxM. (3) To evaluate the variability of measurements. Methods: Terminal in vivo method-comparison stud...
Argue BJ, Labens R.Campdrafting is a unique Australian cow horse sport, which evolved from mustering cattle and is one of Australia's fastest growing equine sports. This discipline is associated with its own unique set of musculoskeletal injuries yet to be reported. Objective: To describe the prevalence, anatomical location, and diagnostic modality used to localise lameness in campdrafting horses to better assist efficient orthopaedic management of the campdraft horse. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records were examined from one private practice equine group and one university veterinary h...
Bowkett-Pritchard C, Bolt DM, Chang YM, Berner D.Equine foot radiographs are commonly obtained to measure anatomical conformation parameters. Comparison of measurements between radiographs and low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has not been extensively explored. Objective: To compare foot parameter measurements between radiographs and low-field MRI, and assess the effect of hoof wall markers on visualising the hoof capsule (during MRI) and facilitating measurements. Methods: Comparative cadaveric analytical study. Methods: Radiography and MRI of nine equine cadaver front feet were performed with and without hoof wall markers, which w...
Tumber MR, Burke MK.Lameness in horses resulting from foot pathology is very common. When investigating the cause of a lameness localised to the foot, the first step is most frequently radiographic imaging. Therefore, being able to identify normal anatomy and recognise pathology on radiographs is important for a veterinary medicine student to learn. Computer-aided learning (CAL) is becoming increasingly utilised in the teaching of students on medicine-related courses, especially post-COVID where online learning has been continued in hybridisation with in-person teaching.In this study, a low-cost CAL module was cr...
Campos Schweitzer A, Vercherin A, Rossignol F.To report successful stabilization of three cervical fracture types with articular involvement using different ventral cervical intervertebral fusion constructs. Methods: A 9-year-old French sport pony gelding, a 5-year-old Anglo-Arabian gelding and a 2-year-old French Warmblood mare. Methods: Short case series. Methods: Ventral cervical intervertebral fusion was performed in three cervical fracture cases: A vertebral body, a vertebral arch and a unilateral facet joint fracture. Selected implants for this purpose were an 11-hole 4.5/5.0 LCP, a three-dimensional (3D)-printed titanium cervical i...
Entwisle IG, Byrne DP, Lester GD, McConnell EJ.Sand enteropathy is a common disease in horses worldwide. The presence of sand does not always cause disease. The amount of sand required to cause clinical disease is not well established. Objective: To establish a weight-indexed cut-off for the diagnosis of clinically relevant sand enteropathy based on radiographic area. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Abdominal radiographs were acquired from clinically normal horses and compared with horses with clinical sand enteropathy. Sand area and sand area per kilogram of body weight were calculated. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve w...
Ennsmann LH, Licka TF.Most horses are used with horseshoes additionally supported by either dorsoabaxial or dorsal clips. The effects of such clips on bone density and shape of the distal phalanx are currently unclear. The aim of this study was to identify correlations between density and shape of the distal phalanx, comparing front hooves unshod or shod with standard shoes either with two dorsoabaxial clips or with a single dorsal clip. Researchers analyzed Oxspring radiographs of either the left or right front hoof from warmblood horses ( = 137) and ponies ( = 43) aged 3-28 years. The evaluation focused...
Northwood A, Berner D.Radiographic protocols for the metacarpo-/tarsophalangeal joint during pre-purchase examinations (PPE) vary internationally, but their impact on pathology detection remains unclear. Optimising imaging protocols is essential to balance diagnostic accuracy with workflow efficiency and radiation exposure. Objective: To evaluate the effect of different radiographic view combinations on fetlock pathology detection and observer agreement in a PPE context; hypothesising that detection rates vary with view selection. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Methods: Two observers reviewed fetlock r...
