Objective radiographic assessment of abdominal sand accumulation in horses.
Abstract: Gastrointestinal sand accumulation is a common cause of equine colic. Subjective assessment of sand accumulation on abdominal radiographs has been used as a diagnostic aid; however, there is poor correlation between clinical, diagnostic, and surgical findings. The purpose of this study was to develop an objective method of assessing radiographic sand accumulation in order to improve the diagnostic utility of radiography for sand colic. Fifty-one equine abdominal radiographic examinations were reviewed, with approximately half of the imaged patients having a clinical diagnosis of sand colic. Initially, four observers independently reviewed these radiographic studies to subjectively decide whether or not sand accumulation was sufficient to cause colic. Subsequently, an objective scoring system was developed using various radiographic parameters that yielded a score ranging from one to 12 for quantity and apparent density of sand accumulation. Inter- and intraobserver results using the subjective scoring method had significant differences among all observers. Subjective assessment was also deemed to be inaccurate for colic prediction. Using the objective scoring system, there were no significant differences between or within the observers' results. A score of seven out of 12 was found to have an 83% likelihood of being associated with a positive diagnosis of sand colic. The designed objective scoring method creates a more uniform and accurate method to assess the sand accumulation.
Publication Date: 2008-04-19 PubMed ID: 18418991DOI: 10.1111/j.1740-8261.2008.00337.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study explores an innovative method for objectively evaluating the accumulation of sand in horse abdomens, contributing to an improved diagnostic process. Through the creation of a scoring system, researchers aim to provide more consistent and accurate results in diagnosing sand colic, a common cause of horse discomfort.
Introduction
- The research paper discusses gastrointestinal sand accumulation, which is recognized as a typical source of equine colic or severe abdominal discomfort in horses.
- Traditional methods of diagnosing sand accumulation through abdominal radiographs have been inconsistent and not always accurate, fueling a need for more reliable diagnostic means.
Development of the Objective Scoring System
- Researchers scrutinized 51 equine abdominal radiographic examinations, with around half of the subjects clinically diagnosed with sand colic.
- Four observers were assigned to assess the radiographic studies independently and subjectively to determine if sand accumulation could be responsible for colic.
- Post this, an objective scoring system was created based on several radiographic parameters, producing scores ranging from one to twelve to signify the quantity and density of sand accumulation.
Findings and Outcome
- The study identified significant disagreement and variance in the results given by each observer using the subjective scoring method, making it an unreliable approach for predicting colic.
- On the contrary, the objective scoring system led to no significant differences among or within the observers’ results, showcasing its potential for consistent evaluation.
- A score of seven out of twelve was correlated to an 83% probability of a positive diagnosis of sand colic, proving the system’s accuracy.
- The objective scoring system thus emerged as a more standardized and precise way to assess the sand accumulation.
Conclusion
- This study is significant in the field of veterinary science as it presents an improved, objective method for diagnosing sand colic in horses.
- It can potentially help prevent misdiagnosis, providing a stronger foundation for therapeutic treatment, and improving overall equine welfare.
Cite This Article
APA
Keppie NJ, Rosenstein DS, Holcombe SJ, Schott HC.
(2008).
Objective radiographic assessment of abdominal sand accumulation in horses.
Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 49(2), 122-128.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1740-8261.2008.00337.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. nkeppie@yahoo.ca
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Colic / diagnostic imaging
- Colic / etiology
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Male
- Radiography
- Silicon Dioxide / adverse effects
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Ennsmann LH, Licka TF. Association between radiographic equine distal phalanx characteristics and absence, presence and type of horseshoes. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1598038.
- Entwisle IG, Byrne DP, Lester GD, McConnell EJ. Radiographic area of large intestinal sand accumulation in horses may determine clinical significance. Aust Vet J 2025 Dec;103(12):890-893.
- Tharwat M, Al-Sobayil F. Equine colic: A comprehensive overview of the sonographic evaluation, diagnostic criteria, and management of different categories. Open Vet J 2025 Mar;15(3):1116-1139.
- Cummings CO, Krucik DDR, Price E. Clinical predictive models in equine medicine: A systematic review. Equine Vet J 2023 Jul;55(4):573-583.
- Mienaltowski MJ, Belt A, Henderson JD, Boyd TN, Marter N, Maga EA, DePeters EJ. Psyllium supplementation is associated with changes in the fecal microbiota of horses. BMC Res Notes 2020 Sep 29;13(1):459.
- Kaikkonen R, Niinistö K, Lindholm T, Raekallio M. Comparison of psyllium feeding at home and nasogastric intubation of psyllium and magnesium sulfate in the hospital as a treatment for naturally occurring colonic sand (geosediment) accumulations in horses: a retrospective study. Acta Vet Scand 2016 Oct 12;58(1):73.
- Kendall A, Ley C, Egenvall A, Bröjer J. Radiographic parameters for diagnosing sand colic in horses. Acta Vet Scand 2008 Jun 13;50(1):17.
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