Imaging of the Equine Foot

Question 1

What views should be taken when radiographing the equine foot?

Answer 1

LM
Dorso-60o-proximal palmarodistal oblique
Palmaro-45o-proximal palmarodistal oblique
Dorsopalmar

Question 2

What signs on a LM view of the equine foot may suggest lameness?

Answer 2

If the angle between the dorsal hoof wall and dorsal wall of distal phalanx >15°

Founder distance >13mm indicates sinking

Dorsal hoof wall thickness >3cm
Lucent line on dorsal hoof wall = separation of lamina

Horizontal lucent lines at coronet indicates sinking

Remodelling ‘slipper’

Question 3

What radiographic signs indicated navicular diease?

Answer 3

Spurs

Flexor cortex erosions (pathognomic)

Navicular fractures

Question 4

How do we tell the difference between bipartitie navicular bones and navicular bone fractures?

Answer 4

Check the other leg

Question 5

What is the founder distance?

Answer 5

Measurement from the top of the coronet with top of P3

Question 6

What is a keratoma? How can you use radiographs to help diagnose the condition?

Answer 6

Abnormal horny tissue present at white line causing splitting and deviation of the white line around the abnormal horn.

It also causes loss of bone from the distal phalanx which can be seen on rads.

Question 7

What are the big 7 orthopeadic disease complexes in horses?

Answer 7

OA
Osteochondrosis
Fractures
Tendonitis
Navicular disease
Wounds
Laminitis

Question 8

What are the radiographic signs of OA?

Answer 8

Joint effusion

Osteophytes

Narrowing joint space

Sclerosis/lucency