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The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice2001; 17(1); 95-113; doi: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30077-9

Diagnostic thermography.

Abstract: Thermography is a practical aid in the clinical evaluation of the equine patient. It is particularly germane to the evaluation of lameness. This modality specifically increases the accuracy of diagnosis. Thermography is the pictorial representation of skin temperature. The technique involves the detection of infrared radiation, which can be directly correlated to blood flow. To be accurate, thermography must be performed in a controlled area free of drafts. The area should be protected from sunlight to avoid erroneous heating of the skin, and the horse's hair length should be uniform. Thermography detects heat before it is perceptible during routine physical examination and thus is useful for the early detection of laminitis, stress fractures, and tendinitis. It offers a noninvasive means of evaluating the blood supply to an injured region and represents one of the only reliable noninvasive means to evaluate blood flow to the foot of the horse. Thermography is also useful for the early identification of stress injuries to the contralateral limb of convalescing orthopedic patients. Thermography is an excellent adjunct to clinical examination as well as being complementary to other imaging techniques such as radiology, ultrasonography, and scintigraphy.
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Publication Date: 2001-08-08 PubMed ID: 11488048DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30077-9Google 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 article discusses thermography as an effective method for early detection of certain health conditions in horses, such as laminitis, stress fractures, and tendinitis. It underscores the importance of a controlled environment for accurate results, and its role as a complement to other imaging techniques.

Thermography and its Usage in Equine Health

  • The primary subject of the research is thermography, a diagnostic tool used in the clinical evaluation of horses, specifically focusing on the assessment of lameness.
  • Thermography is a process which visually represents the skin temperature of the horse. It does so by detecting infrared radiation that directly correlates to blood flow. The intensity of the hard-to-detect infrared radiation can relay crucial information about the horse’s health.

Importance of Controlled Environment

  • The researchers underscore the importance of performing thermography in a controlled area devoid of drafts. This ensures accurate results as drafts and direct sunlight can lead to incorrect heating of the horse’s skin and may affect the readings.
  • The article also states that for thermography to provide an accurate diagnosis, the horse’s hair length should be uniform. A variation in hair length could potentially incorrectly influence the perceived skin temperature of the horse.

Benefits of Thermography

  • The study notes that thermography can detect heat before it becomes evident in a routine physical exam. This trait makes it a valuable tool in the early detection of specific health conditions in horses. These conditions can include laminitis, a painful condition often affecting the horse’s foot, stress fractures, and tendinitis, inflammation of a tendon.
  • Thermography provides a noninvasive means to evaluate blood flow to any injured regions of the horse, making it one of the most reliable noninvasive methods to examine blood flow to the foot of a horse.
  • This diagnostic tool proves helpful in the early identification of stress injuries in the contralateral limb (opposite limb) of recovering orthopedic patients.

Complementary Role to Other Imaging Techniques

  • Thermography is not considered a standalone diagnostic tool. The research mentions that it excellent adjunct to clinical examinations, offering complementary information to other imaging techniques.
  • The article concludes that thermography should be used alongside other imaging techniques, such as radiology, ultrasonography, and scintigraphy, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the horse’s health.

Cite This Article

APA
Turner TA. (2001). Diagnostic thermography. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 17(1), 95-113. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30077-9

Publication

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
ISSN: 0749-0739
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 1
Pages: 95-113

Researcher Affiliations

Turner, T A
  • Department of Clinical and Population Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horses
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Thermography / instrumentation
  • Thermography / methods
  • Thermography / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 32 times.
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