Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detection of a radiographically occult fracture of the lateral palmar process of the distal phalanx in a horse using computed tomography.
- Journal:
- Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
- Year:
- 1999
- Authors:
- Martens, P et al.
- Affiliation:
- Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A horse that was limping was first checked with X-rays two days and then again 19 days after the lameness started, but the vets couldn't find a clear problem. After 25 days, they used a special imaging technique called computed tomography (CT) and found an incomplete fracture in a part of the horse's hoof bone that wasn't visible on the X-rays. The CT scan showed that this fracture likely didn't reach the joint, which is a good sign for recovery. The next day, they took another X-ray based on the CT findings and were able to see signs of the fracture that they couldn't see before. This case highlights how helpful CT can be in diagnosing complex fractures in horses.
Abstract
A horse with a suspected injury of the distal phalanx was examined using radiography at day two and 19 after the onset of the lameness, with no definite diagnosis. Using computed tomography an incomplete fracture of the lateral wing of the distal phalanx was diagnosed at day 25. Based on computed tomography it was determined that the fracture probably did not enter the joint or involve the palmar cortex throughout its length which were of prognostic importance. The day following the CT examination a new oblique radiographic projection was made. In this radiography which was based on, and never would have been attempted without, the information about the geometric pattern of the fracture achieved by CT examination, a radiolucent area indicative of a wing fracture was seen. This report emphasizes the value of computed tomography in diagnosing a geometric complicated nonarticular oblique fracture of the palmar process of the pedal bone in a horse.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10463825/