Page 122 - A Practical Guide to Equine Radiography

VetBooks.ir CHAPTER 11

Tarsus

Indications • Portable X-ray machine
Disorders of the tarsus are a common cause of • Plate holder
hind limb lameness in the horse and therefore • Radiation safety equipment: lead gowns,
radiography of the tarsal region is a routine pro- lead gloves and thyroid protectors.
cedure in equine practice.
Indications for performing radiographs of
the tarsus include: Preparation
If necessary, brush or wash the area to reduce
• Lameness localized to the tarsus by diag- artefacts caused by dirt. Sedation of the patient
nostic analgesia, including subtarsal, deep is advised.
branch of the lateral plantar nerve, peroneal
and tibial nerve blocks, tarsocrural joint
block, distal intertarsal joint block, tarso- Radiographic protocol
metatarsal joint block or tarsal sheath block A standard radiographic examination of the tar-
• Soft tissue swellings, including effusion of sus usually includes at least four radiographs,
synovial structures, e.g. the tarsocrural joint although this may vary depending on the
or the tarsal sheath indication:
• Signs of trauma, such as wounds or diffuse
swellings • Lateromedial (LM)
• Assessment of tarsal bone ossification in pre- • Dorsoplantar (DPl)
mature or dysmature foals • Dorso 45º lateral-plantaromedial oblique
• Angular limb deformities of the tarsal region (D45L-PlMO)
• As part of a pre-purchase or pre-sales • Dorso 45º medial-plantarolateral oblique
examination. (D45M-PlLO) or plantaro 45º lateral-dorso-
medial oblique (Pl45L-DMO).

Additional projections:
Equipment
For a complete study of the tarsus the following • Flexed lateromedial (flexed LM)
equipment is required: • Flexed dorsoplantar (flexed DPl) or ‘skyline’
view of the tuber calcanei/sustentaculum tali.

Equine Radiography.indb 103 27/11/2018 11:09