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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Radiol Ultrasound / Comparison of radiography and CT for the evaluation of third...
Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2023; 64(4); 661-668; doi: 10.1111/vru.13255

Comparison of radiography and CT for the evaluation of third carpal bone slab fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Slab fractures of the third carpal bone (C3) are a common cause of lameness in Thoroughbred racehorses. Information on fracture morphology is commonly obtained from radiographs or CT. This retrospective, methods comparison aimed to explore the agreement between radiography and CT for imaging C3 slab fractures and discuss the contribution of the latter to clinical case management. Thoroughbred racehorses with a slab or incomplete slab fracture of C3 identified on radiographs that subsequently underwent CT examination were included. Fracture characteristics (location, plane, classification, displacement, comminution) and fracture length as a percentage of the proximodistal length of the bone, termed the proximodistal fracture percentage (PFP) were recorded independently from both modalities and then compared. Across all fractures (n = 82) radiographs and CT showed slight agreement on the presence of comminution (Cohen's Kappa (κ) 0.108, P 0.031) and moderate agreement on fracture displacement (K 0.683, P < 0.001). Computed tomography identified comminution in 49 (59.8%) and displacement in nine (11.0%) fractures that were not detected by radiographs. Half of the fractures were only seen on flexed dorsoproximal-dorsodistal oblique (DPr-DDiO) radiographs and therefore were of unknown length without additional CT imaging. Incomplete fractures that could be measured on radiographs (n = 12) had a median (IQR) PFP of 40% (30%-52%) on radiographs and 53% (38%-59%) on CT, a statistically significant difference (P = 0.026). Radiography and CT showed the poorest agreement when determining the presence of comminution. Additionally, radiography often underestimated the incidence of displacement, and fracture length, and resulted in more fractures being classified as incomplete when compared to CT.
© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-08 PubMed ID: 37288478DOI: 10.1111/vru.13255Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research compares the effectiveness of radiography (X-rays) and CT scans in providing detailed information about third carpal bone fractures in thoroughbred racehorses, a common cause of lameness. The study finds that CT scans tend to provide more detailed and accurate data on the fractures, highlighting limitations in radiography.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The study was essentially a comparison of two methods (radiography and CT scanning) used in the evaluation of slab fractures of the third carpal bone (C3), a common reason for lameness in thoroughbred racehorses.
  • This was a retrospective study, meaning past cases where horses had these specific fractures identified on radiographs and subsequently examined further via CT were analyzed.
  • Various fracture characteristics, including location, plane, classification, displacement, comminution (breakage into tiny pieces), as well as the fracture length as percentage of the total bone length, were compared between the two imaging methods.

Results and Findings

  • The study found a slight agreement on the presence of comminution and moderate agreement on fracture displacement between radiography and CT scans across all fractures (n = 82).
  • CT scans were found to identify comminution and displacement in a higher number of fractures which were not detected by radiography.
  • Half of the fractures could only be seen on flexed dorsoproximal-dorsodistal oblique (DPr-DDiO) radiographs and hence, their length couldn’t be determined without complementary CT imaging.
  • There was a statistically significant difference in the measuring of incomplete fractures between the two methods; radiographs estimated a smaller percentage of bone length being fractured as compared to CT.

Analysis and Conclusion

  • The study concluded that radiography and CT scanning showed the poorest agreement when determining the presence of comminution.
  • Radiography often underestimated the occurrence of displacement and fracture length, and more fractures were classified as incomplete compared to CT imaging.
  • The results suggest that CT imaging provides more accurate and detailed information about the fractures, thereby allowing for improved clinical case management.

Cite This Article

APA
Dash RF, Minshall GJ, Wright IM. (2023). Comparison of radiography and CT for the evaluation of third carpal bone slab fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 64(4), 661-668. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13255

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 4
Pages: 661-668

Researcher Affiliations

Dash, Rupert F
  • Equine Referral Hospital, The Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
Minshall, Gaynor J
  • Newmarket Equine Hospital, Newmarket, UK.
Wright, Ian M
  • Newmarket Equine Hospital, Newmarket, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Fractures, Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
  • Radiography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
  • Carpal Bones

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