Radiography of the horse
Authors: Kold Svend, Butler Jan
Journal: In Practice
Summary
# Editorial Summary Given that distal limb pathology remains the primary cause of equine lameness, diagnostic imaging of the foot and pastern demands both technical excellence and interpretive skill—particularly as practitioners increasingly rely on diagnostic analgesia to localise lesions in this region. Kold and Butler (2003) examined radiographic techniques specific to the equine distal limb, offering practical guidance on optimising image quality and positioning whilst cataloguing common radiological findings encountered in everyday practice. The authors emphasise that despite advances in ultrasonography and the growing availability of MRI, high-resolution radiography remains indispensable for accurately characterising osseous pathology from the coronet to the distal interphalangeal joint. Their work underscores the importance of standardised radiographic protocols—including appropriate angulation, positioning and use of complementary projections—to avoid misinterpretation and ensure diagnostic confidence when differentiating conditions such as navicular disease, pedal osteitis and collateral sesamoidean ligament injuries. For farriers and veterinarians managing chronic lameness, maintaining proficiency in foot radiography and staying current with technique refinements directly impacts the validity of diagnostic blocks and the success of subsequent treatment strategies.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Maintain expertise in foot and pastern radiography techniques—newer imaging modalities have not replaced radiographs in routine lameness diagnosis
- •Stay current with radiographic technique improvements to accurately identify common foot conditions in your practice
- •Understand proper diagnostic analgesia interpretation alongside radiographic findings for accurate localization of lameness
Key Findings
- •The foot and pastern region is the most frequently implicated area in equine lameness cases
- •Diagnostic analgesia (intra-articular and perineural) use has increased significantly in recent years
- •High-quality diagnostic radiography remains essential despite advances in ultrasonography and MRI availability
- •Radiographic technique optimization is critical for accurate diagnosis of foot and phalangeal conditions