Emergency equine field radiography Flashcards
What must you consider before taking radiographs
Patient is in pain and anxious
Often unable to weight bare and limb is shaking
Radiography sometimes unnecessary- e.g. complete open displaced long bone fracture
Describe how to prepare animal for radiography
restraint
analgesia- NSAIDs and opiates
Sedation- alpha 2 agonists
Remove bandages
tail bandage
Describe how to approach owner preparation
Make sure you stay calm – ‘all in a days work’
Keep them calm
Tell them what you are going to do and what you need
Send them away and get other assistants
Describe the location that you want to take radiographs
Sufficient space
Flat firm floor
Out of direct sunlight
Enclosed
Private
Electricity supply
List the safety equipment needed for radiography
3 lead gowns
3 thyroid protectors
lead gloves
‘Local Rules’ document
dosimeter badge
radiation warning signs
Describe how to you image the pedal bone
Dorsoproximal-palmodistal
How do you image a sagittal fracture of the first phalanx
Dorsopalmar image of the pastern is the main view we need
How do you image a sagittal fracture of the meta-carpus/tarsus
Dorso-palmar is main view we want
How do you image a splint bone fracture
Dorsolateral-palmomedial
How do you image the third carpal bone for a slab fracture?
flexed lateral view (lateromedial)
skyline view: radiation comes dorsoproximal-dorsodistal view
Which horses tend to get third carpal bone slap fracture
Racehorses
what is a slab fracture
bi-articular fracture
How do you image olecranon fractures
Mediolateral image
List 6 complications of internal fixation?
osteomyelitis
screw loosening
implant failure
Delayed/ non union
ring sequestrum
support limb laminitis
describe support limb laminitis
Rotation of pedal bone - caused by weight bearing in non-painful leg so increase weight bearing
