Page 88 - A Practical Guide to Equine Radiography

VetBooks.ir CHAPTER 8

Carpus

Indications • Radiation safety equipment: lead gowns,
Carpal diseases are frequently described in lead gloves and thyroid protectors.
young athletic horses, especially in racehorses,
but carpal problems can also occur in older
horses and in other disciplines. Preparation
Indications for performing radiographs of If necessary, brush or wash the area to reduce
the carpus include: artefacts caused by dirt. Sedation of the patient
is advised.
• Lameness localized to the carpus by diagnos-
tic analgesia (subcarpal, lateral palmar, high
two-point, radial and ulnar nerve blocks, Radiographic protocol
intercarpal joint block, radiocarpal joint A standard radiographic examination of the
block or carpal sheath block) carpus usually includes at least five radio-
• Soft tissue swellings, including effusion of graphs, although this may vary depending on
the carpal joints or the carpal sheath the indication:
• Signs of trauma, such as wounds or diffuse
swelling • Lateromedial (LM)
• Assessment of ossification status of the carpal • Dorsopalmar (DPa)
bones in premature or dysmature foals • Dorso 45º lateral-palmaromedial oblique
• Angular limb deformities of the carpal region (D45L-PaMO)
• As part of a pre-purchase and pre-sales • Dorso 45º medial-palmarolateral oblique
examination. (D45M-PaLO) or palmaro 45º lateral-
dorsomedial oblique (Pa45L-DMO).

Equipment Additional projections:
For a complete study of the carpus the follow-
ing equipment is required: • Flexed lateromedial (flexed LM)
• Dorso 85º proximal-dorsodistal oblique
• Portable X-ray machine (D85Pr-DDiO) or ‘skyline’ view of the distal
• Plate holder radius

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