Vs 205 equine anatomy and radiography

Equine Anatomy

  • The equine skeleton consists of various important bones categorized into regions:

    • Cervical Vertebrae

    • Thoracic Vertebrae

    • Lumbar Vertebrae

    • Sacrum

    • Skull

    • Coccygeal Vertebrae

    • Scapula

    • Femur

    • Humerus

    • Fibula

    • Ulna

    • Tibia

    • Radius

    • Sternum

    • Rib

    • Pelvis

    • Patella

    • Tarsal Bone

    • Carpus

    • Accessory Carpal Bone

    • Metacarpus

    • Metatarsal

    • Proximal Sesamoid

    • Proximal Phalanx (P1)

      • P1

    • Middle Phalanx (P2)

      • P2

    • Distal Sesamoid

    • Distal Phalanx (P3)

      • P3

Equine Terminology

  • Front Foot Anatomy began at the:

    • Carpus:

      • Splint Bones: metacarpal 2 and 4

      • Cannon Bone: metacarpal 3

      • Fetlock Joint: proximal sesamoid is involved

      • P1: long pastern (proximal phalanx)

      • P2: short pastern (middle phalanx)

      • P3: coffin bone (distal phalanx or pedal bone)

      • Navicular Bone: below P3

Hind Leg Structure

  • The hind leg anatomy includes:

    • Coxofemoral Joint: connects the hip, leading to

    • Stifle Joint: with patella positioned above the tibia/fibula

    • Metatarsals: follow a similar structure to the front

Equine Radiography

  1. Physical Exertion: Increased physical activity leads to higher rates of injuries.

  2. Common Issues Observed:

    • Chips and fractures are common in horse legs, requiring careful attention to joint structure.

Lameness Exam

  • The exam is conducted to locate the cause of lameness, which includes:

    • Observation during walk and trot

    • Uses visual and auditory methods to examine all four limbs.

    • Utilizes pressure cast tests to detect tenderness in the leg and identifies affected areas.

Diagnostic Techniques

  • Flexion Test:

    • Holds the leg for 30 seconds, assessing for stiffness, pain, or weight shift.

  • Nerve Blocks:

    • Helps determine the source of pain in limbs.

Equine X-ray Considerations

  • Equine x-rays share similarities with small animal x-rays but must account for size and upright positioning:

    • Proper Angles & Equipment: Ensures effectiveness of results.

    • Portable X-ray Units: Essential for flexibility in performing the radiography on-site.

Safety Protocols During X-rays

  • Minimum personnel required:

    • Horse holder

    • Cassette holder

    • Machine operator, carefully managing exposure to avoid radiation.

Patient Preparation for Radiography

  • Important to follow procedures for artifact-free x-rays:

    • Remove shoes from the foot, clean debris, and trim hoof as necessary.

Labeling Protocol for X-rays

  • Labels must be applied to indicate patient and view specifics:

    • Ensure proper orientation of labels before taking any images.

Routine Views in Equine Radiography

  1. Basic Views:

    • Dorsopalmar (DP)

    • Lateromedial (LM)

    • Dorsolateral-Palmaromedial Oblique (DLPMO)

    • Palmaromedial-Dorsolateral Oblique (PMDLO)

Specialized Views for Anatomical Details

  • Include specific oblique angles to visualize bones clearly:

    • Medial and Lateral Obliques

    • Flexed and Non-flexed Views

Common Conditions Identified in Radiography

  • Hoof bone abnormalities:

    • Coffin Bone abnormalities

    • Navicular Bones conditions

Final Steps in X-ray Procedure

  1. Review and assess image quality post-exposure.

  2. Ensure all labels are removed assigning images to respective folders.