[Possibilities for computer tomography of the equine head based on two cases with a fracture of the base of the skull].

The research focuses on the use of computer tomography to detect head injuries in horses, demonstrated through two cases where head trauma was suspected but couldn’t be diagnosed through routine methods. Detailed CT examination, however, revealed base skull fractures and hemorrhage.

Introduction to the Research

• This study presents research conducted at the Veterinary School, University of Zurich. It successfully leverages the use of computer tomography, a digital visualization technique, to diagnose injuries in the skulls of horses, that were previously undetectable.

Study Objects and Methodology

• The subjects of this study were a foal and a small pony, both suspected to have head trauma.
• The standard imaging mechanism employed initially failed to provide a concrete diagnosis of the animals’ neurological deficiencies.
• The researchers then used a computed tomography (CT) scan to get a detailed image of the head, which clearly detected injuries that routine radiography had missed.

Findings of the Research

• In the first case, the CT revealed a basilar skull fracture along with a focal brain hemorrhage. This kind of hemorrhage occurs in a specific, localized area.
• In the second case, multiple basilar skull fractures were identified through computer tomography.
• Furthermore, the researchers applied an iodine-containing contrast medium during the CT examination, which revealed the presence of an epidural hemorrhage – by illuminating the blood which had escaped from the blood vessels into the area between the skull and the outer layer of the brain.

Conclusion of the Research

• The study concluded the importance of computer tomography as an extremely effective diagnostic tool, proving invaluable in detecting head traumas in horses.
• These cases highlight its potential in providing a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of equine head injuries that are otherwise difficult to identify through routine imaging techniques.