Computed Tomographic Diagnosis of the Pelvic and Lumbar Area in a Series of Equine Patients (11 Cases)

Introduction: CT has gained influence in the diagnosis of Equine upper limb and axial skeleton pathologies. This study presents different cases of pelvic and lumbar pathologies and demonstrates the technique for image acquisition. The value of CT-based diagnosis is presented in comparison to basic imaging modalities.

Materials and Methods: Medical records and radiology reports of 11 horses undergoing CT for suspicion of pelvic or lumbar pathology at Caesars Entertainment Equine Hospital were collected and evaluated via a Canon Aquilion CT scanner TSX-201A.

Results: Two horses were diagnosed with lumbar pathologies. Two horses had coxofemoral arthritis (including a 1,900-pound Percheron) and a weanling marked bilateral coxofemoral joint OCD. Four horses were diagnosed with pelvic fractures; three involving the acetabulum and one iliac fracture. A pony was scanned within 12 months of FHO surgery. One horse underwent CT examination for metastatic screening of an invasive preputial tumor. No patient had a proven, pre-CT diagnosis, allowing sound judgment and decision making.

Discussion/Conclusion: This report shows the importance and feasibility of CT used for upper limb pathologies, almost regardless of size. Speed of CT, acquisition of raw data, and ability of postacquisition processing present significant advantages, especially in an anatomic area, where osseous and soft tissue-on-bone pathologies dominate the differential diagnostic list. Whilst five horses were euthanized based on information gained it seems important that CT-diagnosis allowed successful anesthesia recovery, proper management and postdiagnosis rehab. Six of the horses in this case series are alive and orthopaedically well at the time of writing.

Acknowledgments: There was no proprietary interest or funding provided for this project.

Publication History

Article published online:
11 September 2023