How to perform a venogram of the equine foot.
Authors: Amy Santonastaso, Travis Burns, Elaine F Claffey
Journal: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Venography of the Equine Foot Venography offers a valuable diagnostic window into digital vascular perfusion, particularly when assessing the severity and prognosis of laminitis cases where compromised blood flow may guide therapeutic decisions. Santonastaso and colleagues present a detailed technical protocol involving sedation, abaxial nerve blocks, an Esmarch tourniquet applied at the fetlock, and percutaneous catheterisation of the palmar digital vein using a 21-gauge butterfly catheter followed by iodinated contrast injection. A comprehensive radiographic series—including weight-bearing and unloaded views in multiple planes (lateral-medial, dorsal-palmar, and upright pedal projections)—allows clinicians to evaluate contrast distribution and identify regions of decreased or aberrant vascular filling within the digit. By revealing perfusion deficits that correlate with tissue viability and healing potential, venography can inform evidence-based decisions on farriery interventions, therapeutic shoeing modifications, and prognosis in acute and chronic laminitis. For practitioners managing laminitic horses, understanding this diagnostic modality strengthens the ability to correlate clinical findings with underlying vascular compromise and tailor management accordingly.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Venography is a clinically useful diagnostic tool for assessing digit blood flow in laminitis cases; understanding the proper technique and standard views helps interpret results and plan appropriate farriery and medical interventions.
- •The procedure requires sedation, nerve blocks, and aseptic technique but is straightforward enough for practitioners to understand and request when evaluating laminitic horses.
- •Abnormal vascular filling patterns revealed by venography can directly influence shoeing strategies and other therapeutic choices, making this a valuable diagnostic aid for complex foot cases.
Key Findings
- •A standardized venogram technique using abaxial nerve block, tourniquet application, and butterfly catheter placement into the palmar digital vein reliably produces diagnostic images of equine foot vasculature.
- •Standard radiographic views include weight-bearing and unloaded lateral-medial, dorsal-palmar, and oblique projections to assess vascular contrast filling patterns.
- •Venogram findings demonstrating decreased or abnormal vascular contrast filling can inform shoeing and treatment decisions in laminitic horses.