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Lameness Diagnostics

Sports Medicine

With over 40 years of combined experience, Fox Run Equine Center is committed to diagnosing lameness in the horse.  Our experts are well versed in total care using a variety of modalities.  Physical examination using a hand-on approach is paramount in making the correct diagnosis.  Nerve and/or joint blocks are used routinely.  Only after a detailed examination are imaging modalities used to confirm or make a diagnosis.

Digital Radiography

Our clinicians use digital radiography to provide instant results that can be utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of lameness.  They can be adjusted to show subtle lesions of bone and soft tissue in the same radiograph.  Digital radiographs use the same x-ray generators as traditional film radiography, but are processed by a special plate connected to a computer.  Once in the computer, they appear on screen in seconds, and can be adjusted for size, contrast, and brightness.  This allows for detailed evaluation of soft tissue and bone.

Digital radiography also provides us the ability to share radiographs, via CD with owners, referring veterinarians, and consulting veterinarians around the world.  Digital radiography has also allowed for more compact storage, and has stopped the lost quality of film over time.

Digital Ultrasound

Ultrasonography is used to help identify disorders of the musculoskeltal system.  We have the ability to ultrasound tendons and suspensory ligaments, joints, masses and swellings.  We can also ultrasound the iliac arteries, disorders of which sometimes lead to lameness.

Nuclear Scintigraphy

Nuclear Scintigraphy (bone scan) is a diagnostic modality used for lameness diagnosis, and vascular disorders.  By injecting our patient with Technetium 99-MDP, the source of lameness can be found when other methods have not.  Horses with multiple limb lameness, normal radiographs and/or ultrasound, or spine and pelvis abnormalities benefit from a nuclear scan.  It is non-invasive, does not require general anesthesia, and is far more sensitive (1000 times) than more traditional imaging modalities.

Our nuclear scans are triphasic, evaluating the vascular, soft tissue, and skeletal systems, as appropriate.