Hoof Radiographs: They Give You X-Ray Vision - Part One

I record the measurements as proximal/distal (e. g. 15/15, meaning that the dorsal H-L zone is 15 mm at both locations). Pads have a varying amount of give thus bringing awareness, postural, behavioral and movement changes. In the examples below, we use Metron Hoof scale blocks which are used in Eponamind imaging software. Packing the frog sulci and bar area with Play Doh or similar material is a common practice when taking 65 degree DP views. Measuring the tendon surface angle of the navicular bone (lateral view) as it relates to the ground surface defines the proper beam angle for this view. Usually, you only need a few x-ray of each hoof to see what's going on inside. If you are using a phone camera, ensure the camera is as close to the ground as possible if you don't have a block and zoom in to avoid distortion. How to document (images and radiographs) for successful hoof care and promote soundness in horses. Visualize the underlying bone and associated soft tissues when looking at the hoof. Concluding Remarks Effective examination of the foot hinges on an appreciation of its normal structure and function, encompassing the hoof capsule, soft tissues, vasculature, and bone. The single sphere gives the illusion of ease of use, but it hasn't helped the practitioner understand in which plane measures will be valid. To test this yourself, pack only one half of the foot, take a 65 degree DP, and compare the detail between the packed and unpacked sides of the foot. ) They can be used in a wide variety of settings but are inappropriate for taking radiographs as they are too soft thus causing distortion in the radiograph and/or not supporting or standing up to larger horses. To minimize magnification, the cassette must be in contact with the foot (i. zero subject-film distance).

1. X ray of horse foot
2. X-ray of healthy horse hoof
3. X-ray of horses hoof
4. X ray of horse hoof
5. Horse head x ray

X Ray Of Horse Foot

It is sufficiently firm to support horses of any weight, yet provides subtle surface deflection to elicit the sensory perception of grip, thus avoiding the sensation of slipperiness. They are shot with a harder exposure that burns out edge definition and soft tissue detail. Horse head x ray. Note opaque lesions proximal to the navicular bone. I use a SID of only 24 in. The SURE FOOT Equine X-Ray Block provides a stable, more comfortable, surface for the horse to stand on. Ensure the x-ray beam is level with the bottom of the pedal bone (which is ensured when using the correct blocks), perpendicular to the distal limb and completely parallel to the ground surface for accurate views. A) Typical Thoroughbred hind foot.

X-Ray Of Healthy Horse Hoof

For evaluation of the navicular bone, the beam is centered over the navicular area and a hard exposure is taken using a grid. If you have taken photos and wish to learn how to map and measure these yourself, we offer educational days and mentorship opportunities which can be tailor made to your needs. After we have done nerve blocks to identify the region to focus on, x-rays can be done to assess the structures for abnormalities. A larger FFD will require a higher technique setting on the generator, and the collimator to be closed a bit further — but the patient receives the same dose. With Metron-Hoof, we can produce images with the radiograph superimposed on the hoof image, like so: Making sense of your hoof images. Take at least 2 exposures per view; one for soft tissue detail and one for bone detail. Hoof Radiographs: They Give You X-Ray Vision - Part One. Whereas some practitioners routinely use a stand-off of 26" (66 cm) we prefer to use about 36" (91 cm). It's really useful to have X-rays taken when you purchase a new horse so that you'll have a baseline to be able to compare to later on. The sides of the lesion are smooth and the proximal distal border of the lesion has a smooth radius. Most lame horses do not have bone pathology, so the solution in these cases generally relies on an understanding of how subtle changes in soft tissue parameters affect the overall health and soundness of the foot.

X-Ray Of Horses Hoof

Beam-film relationship-make sure the cassette is perpendicular to the beam on all views; image distortion occurs whenever the film is not perpendicular to the beam. In a normal adult foot, the measurements should be the same proximally as distally (i. both numbers are identical). X-ray of healthy horse hoof. These early distortions are easily missed if the normal parameters for a horse of that breed, age, environment, and use are not appreciated. Ideally, these will be done as part of a full pre-purchase exam, to help you avoid any unpleasant surprises in your horse-purchasing experience. Raised DP The raised DP view is an excellent projection for evaluating the navicular bone. However, some general comments are in order. We use a 45mm zoom lens digital camera with flash and flip out monitor so we can safely and efficiently view what we are photographing with the camera on the ground.

X Ray Of Horse Hoof

Radiology (x-rays) allows us to "see" many different aspects of the body. Clinical Examination Regardless of the purpose of the examination, the physical exam is the most important aspect of evaluating the equine foot. This simple approach effectively helps avoid misinterpretation, a common result of forming an opinion without sufficient diagnostic information; for example, making presumptions concerning the clinical relevance of a radiographic lesion without consideration of the history or physical findings. X ray of horse foot. Hoof mass, and the structure of primary interest. At the very least, the width of the corium and horn can be accurately measured for both hoof wall and sole, provided the outer surface of the dorsal hoof wall is delineated using radiopaque material and the ground surface is defined either by the shoe or by a radiopaque marker in the surface of the positioning block. The conventional method of identifying and quantitating PIII rotation is inaccurate and misleading.

Horse Head X Ray

For more information, please call us at (352) 472-1620, visit our website at, or follow us on Facebook! Another unique feature of PIII that must be considered is its shape. This fact must be borne in mind when taking measurements such as sole depth and H-L zone width from these digitized radiographs. Making it part of every radiographic examination will greatly enhance your diagnostic capabilities by allowing you to develop an eye for fine detail and thus subtle abnormalities that would otherwise have been missed. Versailles, KY, USA. Is the originator and inventor of SURE FOOT, which is in use worldwide by horse owners, veterinarians, equine physical therapists, trainers and farriers to relax, calm, treat and train horses to optimum function. Below are examples of images marked up using the HoofMapp app which is currently available (as of 20-9-21) only on ios (e. Does Your Farrier Need X-Rays. g. iphones). Equine Vet Educ 2001;3:172-178. a Intropaste, Barium Sulfate Paste, Lafayette Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Lafayette, IN 47904 or Yorba Linda, CA 92887. b Plexigas, Rohm GmbH & Co., KG, D-64293 Darmstadt, Germany. Try and take the picture about 3 feet or 1 metre away when taking DP or LM views and practice creating quality images as outlined below. Yeah, of course you will do that. In most circumstances, the shoe should be removed, so that no part of the bones is obscured. Make sure the cassette is perpendicular to the beam, on every view, every time.

A) Note relaxed position of foot. In my experience, beam-subject-film positioning is much more important than the length of the SID in minimizing magnification and image distortion.