Advances in Imaging Techniques to Guide Therapies and Monitor Response to the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Injuries.

This article evaluates the progress in diagnostic imaging for performance horses, and its implications for enhancing treatment processes, monitoring therapeutic responses, and guiding rehabilitation practices. While the advancements in imaging techniques and novel treatment strategies have improved the prognosis of many equine injuries, the goal of this section is to assist practitioners in choosing the right imaging modality and its optimal use in directing treatment and monitoring choices.

Evolution in Diagnostic Imaging

• Diagnostic imaging has dramatically evolved, allowing for more precise and comprehensive diagnoses of injuries in performance horses.
• The use of various imaging tools, including X-rays, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and nuclear scintigraphy, have provided clinicians with significant insights. These techniques have enabled them to direct treatment options more effectively, monitor the response to therapy, and guide rehabilitation recommendations.

The Impact of Advances in Imaging

• The developments in diagnostic imaging and the introduction of novel treatment options have substantially enhanced the overall prognosis of numerous injuries affecting performance horses.
• Equipped with a deeper understanding of a horse’s injury through precise imaging, veterinarians can develop a more targeted treatment plan and effectively monitor its outcome.

Guiding Practitioners

• The objective of this paper is to review the advancements in diagnostic imaging for horses and provide guidance to clinicians in the choice of the proper imaging modality.
• Given the array of available imaging options, it is crucial for practitioners to understand the strengths and limitations of each method and select the modality that best suits the specifics of a case. This selection would then guide treatment decisions and monitoring plans, leading to better health outcomes for the horse.