EQUINE MEDICINE

Large Animal Radiology: Digital X-Ray Front & Hind Limb

Equine Skeletal System

RADIOGRAPH PRINCIPALS

Portable machine most commonly used

FFD 20-30 cm

(aka source-image distance (SID))

Cassette Marker-Cranial or lateral to limb

Animal Positioning: Feet square

Weight evenly distributed

Radiographic Aids

Wooden Block: Allows cassette to extend below

hoof

Cassette Tunnel: Allows animal to stand on

cassette

Navicular Box:

Supports foot for easier

navicular films

Cassette Holder: Tunnel with long handle

Allows holder to be away from animal &

primary beam

Radiographic Aids

Hoof Preparation

Requires additional preparation

Hoof should be cleaned of debris

Trim sole & frog

Remove shoe for some views

Pack sulci of frog & sole to eliminate artifacts

Hoof

Minimum of 5 standard views

Lateromedial View

Patient Placement: Weight bearing on block

Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of limb

On ground, perpendicular to ground

Beam Center: Parallel to ground

Centered at coronary band

Hoof

Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar View

Patient Position: Weight bearing on block

Cassette Placement: On ground, along

palmar/plantar aspect on limb

Perpendicular to ground

Beam Center: Parallel to ground

Centered at coronary band

Hoof

Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar Distal Phalanx View

Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel

Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground, in cassette tunnel

Beam Center: Proximodistal at 60º angle

Centered just distal to coronary band

60º

Navicular Box Patient Placement: Affected limb flexed, toe in stand

Cassette Placement: In stand, under foot

Beam Center: Parallel to ground

Centered at coronary band

Hoof

Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar Oblique View Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel

Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground, in cassette tunnel

Beam Center: Proximodistal at 65º angle

Centered at middle of P2

Dorsoproximal-Palmarodistal Oblique Patient Placement: Affected limb flexed, toe in stand

Cassette Placement: In stand, under foot

Beam Center: Parallel to ground

Centered at coronary band

65º

Hoof

Palmaroproximal-Dorsodistal Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette,

extended caudally

Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground

In cassette tunnel

Beam Center: 45º angle, proximodistal

Between heel bulbs

45º

Hoof: Additional Views

Dorsolateral-Palmaromedial Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel

Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground in tunnel

Beam Center: 60º proximodistally

45º off true dorsopalmar

Just distal to coronary band

60º PD

45º Obl

Hoof: Additional Views

Dorsomedial-Palmarolateral Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel

Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground in tunnel

Beam Center: 60º proximodistally

45º off true dorsopalmar

Just distal to coronary band

60º PD

45º Obl

Fetlock Minimum of 5 standard views

Lateromedial View Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of

leg, perpendicular to ground

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered on joint

Fetlock

Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement:

Palmar/Plantar aspect of leg, on ground

Parallel to pastern angle

Beam Center: 20º proximal to distal

Centered on joint

Fetlock

Dorsolateral-Palmaromedial Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Palmaromedial aspect of limb

Parallel to pastern angle

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered at joint 45º dorsolateral to

true dorsopalmar

45º DL

Fetlock

Dorsomedial-Palmarolateral Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Palmarolateral aspect of limb

Parallel to pastern angle

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered at joint 45º dorsomedial to

true dorsopalmar

45º DM

Fetlock

Flexed Lateral View Patient Position: Affected limb flexed with handler

holding hoof

Cassette Placement: Medial side of limb, parallel to

limb

Beam Center: Parallel to ground

Centered at joint

Carpus 5 standard views

Lateromedial View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of leg

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered on joint

Carpus

Dorsopalmar View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Palmar aspect of leg

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered at carpus

Carpus

Dorsolateral-Palmaromedial Oblique View

Patient Placement: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Palmaromedial

aspect of limb

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered at middle of carpus

30º off true lateromedial

30º off LM

Carpus

Dorsomedial-Palmarolateral Oblique View

Patient Placement: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Palmarolateral

aspect of limb

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered at middle of carpus

30º off true mediolateral

30º off ML

Carpus

Flexed Lateromedial View

Patient Position: Affected limb flexed 60º,

handler holding hoof

Cassette Placement:

Medial side of limb, centered at

joint

Beam Center: Parallel to ground

Centered between proximal &

distal rows of carpal bones

Tarsus 4 standard views

Lateromedial View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of limb

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered on proximal

intertarsal joint

Tarsus

Dorsoplantar View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Plantar aspect of limb

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered on proximal

intertarsal joint

Tarsus

Dorsolateral-Plantarmedial Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Plantaromedial aspect of limb

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered on proximal

intertarsal joint 45º off

true lateromedial

45º off LM

Tarsus

Dorsomedial-Plantarolateral Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Plantarolateral aspect of limb

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered on proximal intertarsal joint 45º off true mediolateral

45º off ML

Stifle 3 standard views

Lateromedial View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Medial aspect as

dorsal as possible

Beam Center: Parallel to floor

Centered on joint

Femoral condyles superimposed

Stifle

Caudocranial View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Cranial aspect of joint

Parallel to limb angle

Beam Center: Angled parallel to limb proximodistally

Direct toward midsagittal plane

Centered on joint

Stifle

Caudolateral-Craniomedial Oblique View

Patient Position: Weight bearing

Cassette Placement: Dorsomedial aspect of limb,

as dorsal as possible

Beam Center: Caudolateral at 30º angle

Lateral to the caudal midsagittal plane

Centered at joint

30º Caudolateral