FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-06-08 PubMed ID: 37288478DOI: 10.1111/vru.13255Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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

References

This article includes 26 references
  1. McIlwraith CW, Nixon AJ, Wright IM. Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse (Fourth Edition). 2015;273-291.
  2. Mizuno Yutaka. Fractures of the carpus in racing thoroughbreds of the Japan Racing Association: prevalence, location, and current modes of surgical therapy. J Equine Vet Sci 1996; 16(1):25-31.
  3. Wyburn RS, Gouldenn BE. Fractures of the equine carpus: a report on 57 cases. New Zeal Vet J 1974; 22(8):133-142.
  4. Whyard JM, Daglish J, Wright IM. Frequency distribution of carpal osteochondral fragmentation in a population of flat racing Thoroughbreds in the UK. Equine Vet Educ 2017; 29(5):274-278.
  5. Schneider RK, Bramlage LR, Gabel AA, Barone LM, Kantrowitz BM. Incidence, location and classification of 371 third carpal bone fractures in 313 horses. Equine Vet J 1988; 20(s6):33-42.
  6. Palmer SE. Prevalence of carpal fractures in thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1986; 188(10):1171-1173.
  7. Puchalski SM, Minshall GJ. Imaging Fractures. Wright IM. Fractures in the Horse. Wiley Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2022;67-112p.
  8. Richardson DW. Technique for arthroscopic repair of third carpal bone slab fractures in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1986; 188(3):288-291.
  9. Stephens PR, Richardson DW, Spencer PA. Slab fractures of the third carpal bone in standardbreds and thoroughbreds: 155 cases (1977-1984). J Am Vet Med Assoc 1988; 193(3):353-358.
  10. Kraus BethM, Ross MichaelW, Boston RaymondC. Surgical and nonsurgical management of sagittal slab fractures of the third carpal bone in racehorses: 32 cases (1991-2001). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005; 226(6):945-950.
  11. Rutherford Dj, Bladon B, Rogers Cw. Outcome of lag-screw treatment of incomplete fractures of the frontal plane of the radial facet of the third carpal bone in horses. New Zeal Vet J 2007; 55(2):94-99.
  12. Baldwin CM, Smith MRW, Allen S, Wright IM. Radiographic and arthroscopic features of third carpal bone slab fractures and their impact on racing performance following arthroscopic repair in a population of racing Thoroughbreds in the UK. Equine Vet J 2020; 52(2):213-218.
  13. Tallon Rose, O'neill Henry, Bladon Bruce. Sagittal plane slab fractures of the third carpal bone in 45 racing Thoroughbred horses. Equine Vet J 2020; 52(5):692-698.
  14. Doering AlyssaK, Reesink HeidiL, Luedke LaurenK. Return to racing after surgical management of third carpal bone slab fractures in thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses. Vet Surg 2019; 48(4):513-523.
  15. Powell S, Murray RC. The Carpal Region. Murray RC. Equine MRI. Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2011;385-403.
  16. Genton Martin, Vila Thibault, Olive Julien, Rossignol Fabrice. Standing MRI for surgical planning of equine fracture repair. Vet Surg 2019; 48(8):1372-1381.
  17. Morgan JosephW, Santschi ElizabethM, Zekas LisaJ. Comparison of Radiography and Computed Tomography to Evaluate Metacarpo/Metatarsophalangeal Joint Pathology of Paired Limbs of Thoroughbred Racehorses with Severe Condylar Fracture. Vet Surg 2006; 35(7):611-617.
  18. Braim AEPoulin, Bell RJW, Textor JA, Lo WY, Puchalski SM, Galuppo LD. Computed tomography of proximal metatarsal and concurrent third tarsal bone fractures in a Thoroughbred racehorse. Equine Vet Educ 2010; 22(6):290-295.
  19. Kaewlai Rathachai, Avery LauraL, Asrani AshwinV, Abujudeh HaniH, Sacknoff Richard, Novelline RobertA. Multidetector CT of Carpal Injuries: anatomy, Fractures, and Fracture-Dislocations. Radiographics 2008; 28(6):1771-1784.
  20. Ramzan PHL. A novel radiographic projection for the detection of sagittal plane slab fracture of the equine third carpal bone. Equine Vet J 2019; 51(2):258-260.
  21. Swor TM, Watkins JP, Bahr A, Honnas CM. Results of plate fixation of type 1b olecranon fractures in 24 horses. Equine Vet J 2003; 35(7):670-675.
  22. Henry GA, Cole R. Fracture Healing and Complications in Dogs. Thrall DE. Textbook of Veterinary Diagnostic Radiology. Elsevier Inc; 2018;371-373.
  23. Matcuk GeorgeR, Mahanty ScottR, Skalski MatthewR, Patel DaksheshB, White EricA, Gottsegen ChristopherJ. Stress fractures: pathophysiology, clinical presentation, imaging features, and treatment options. Emerg Radiology 2016; 23(4):365-375.
  24. Wright IM, Smith MRW. The use of small (2.7 mm) screws for arthroscopically guided repair of carpal chip fractures. Equine Vet J 2011; 43(3):270-279.
  25. Pease Anthony, Marr CeliaM. How to publish diagnostic imaging studies: common mistakes and recommendations. Equine Vet J 2019; 51(1):7-10.
  26. Schwarz T. Artefacts in CT. Schwarz T, Saunders J. Veterinary Computed Tomography. Wiley Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2011;9-55.

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Yamaga T, Tagami M, Takeyama A, Kato F, Suzuki T, Tagami M, Tsuzuki N. Preoperative computed tomography imaging for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning in equine cranial disorders: two case reports of congenital malformations. J Equine Sci 2025;36(1):33-37.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.36.33pubmed: 40115729google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,911 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.