Page 192 - A Practical Guide to Equine Radiography
P. 192
VetBooks.ir CHAPTER 16
Back
Indications • Large plates (35 × 43 cm)
Radiography of the thoracolumbar spine is • Parallel grid, depending on system used
nowadays a common diagnostic procedure, • Aluminium wedge or silicon wedge to level
especially in performance horses. Quality radio- out discrepancy in radiodensities caused by
graphs of this region are useful in the diagnosis the different thickness of the spine
of horses with: • Sheet of lead
• Blinkers
• Back pain and stiffness • Head stand
• Thoracolumbar trauma • Mounted plate holder (ceiling- or wall-
• Ataxia and abnormal gait mounted)
• Positive response to regional analgesia • Radiation safety equipment: lead gowns and
• Hind limb lameness that cannot be localized thyroid protectors.
to other anatomical regions by diagnostic
analgesia
• Scintigraphic findings suggestive of thoraco- Preparation
lumbar disease Sedation of the patient is advised. The use
• Non-specific clinical signs including poor of blinkers may be helpful. Divide the back
performance and equitation problems according to the size of the plate so each view
• As part of a pre-purchase examination. overlaps slightly. This is achieved by placing
radiopaque markers along the thoracolumbar
spine, which will also enable the identification
Equipment of specific vertebrae on the radiographs. Beware
For a complete study of the thoracolumbar that markers (especially if they are very radio-
spine the following equipment is required: dense or big) may affect the processing of the
image and cause artefacts. In standard adult
• Portable X-ray machine is sufficient for horses, four markers are usually enough when
thoracic spinous processes. High-output using large plates (Fig. 16.1):
generator may be necessary for vertebral
bodies, articular process joints and lumbar • First marker: withers (T6)
spine • Second marker: mid thoracic spine (T11–T12)
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