Problems associated with the use of radiography in the examination of a horse for a purchaser.
Abstract: The radiography of horses on behalf of a purchaser has become an inevitable part of a veterinarian's work. Radiography should, in theory, pose no more problems than a general clinical examination. In practice, difficulties arise when insufficient or inadequate films are taken or the films are misinterpreted. Radiographs of a diagnostic quality need to be taken and interpreted by a veterinarian who is reasonably well versed in radiological interpretation. Occasionally a lesion will be overlooked or misinterpreted and the radiographs will be retained so that the veterinarian's judgement can be challenged. Nevertheless, if the examination is properly conducted it is the prospective purchaser who must accept the inherent limitations of the technique, not the examining veterinarian. There is an urgent need for discussions to clarify and agree on the scope of the radiographic examination which should be performed. There is also a need for further research into the significance of minor radiographic variations from normality in equine limbs and into the natural history of the diseases which affect this most vital area.
Publication Date: 1981-01-01 PubMed ID: 7238476DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1981.tb03440.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article discusses the challenges and implications of using radiography (X-ray imaging) for horse examination during veterinarian purchase checks, underlining the need for quality control, better interpretation skills, and further research on certain issues.
Overview of the Study
- This article delves into the issues and complexities associated with the use of radiography for examining horses during purchase inspections. It is a common practice carried out by veterinarians. Though the use of radiography should in principle not be more complicated than a normal clinical examination, several problems tend to occur during the process.
Issues with Radiographs
- Problems usually arise when the films taken are either inadequate or insufficient, or when they are misinterpreted. To avoid pitfalls, the study suggests that only high-quality diagnostic radiographs should be taken and these should be interpreted by a qualified veterinarian who is well-versed in radiological interpretation.
- Despite taking necessary precautions, there are instances when a lesion could be overlooked or misinterpreted causing possible complications post-purchase. For this reason, the radiographs are usually retained post examination to challenge the veterinarian’s judgement if required.
Responsibility and Limitations
- Despite being a scientific method for examination, radiography inherently has certain limitations. The acceptability of these limitations, according to the paper, should lie with the prospective purchaser and not with the examining veterinarian, provided the examination was meticulously conducted.
Need for Further Discussion and Research
- The paper strongly advocates for urgent discussions to establish a clear consensus on the extent of a radiographic examination. It also stresses the need for more research into identifying minor radiographic variations in the equine limbs and understanding the diseases that affect this crucial area.
Cite This Article
APA
Webbon PM.
(1981).
Problems associated with the use of radiography in the examination of a horse for a purchaser.
Equine Vet J, 13(1), 15-18.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1981.tb03440.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses
- Physical Examination / veterinary
- Radiography
- Technology, Radiologic / methods
- Technology, Radiologic / veterinary
Citations
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