Substantial variability exists in the interpretation of survey radiographs among equine veterinarians.
Authors: Esselman Angie M, Johnson Sherry A, Frisbie David D, Barrett Myra F, Zhou Tianjian, Contino Erin K
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Pre-purchase radiographic examinations remain routine in equine practice, yet this study reveals substantial inconsistency in how veterinarians interpret and act upon imaging findings—a critical consideration when clients rely on professional recommendations to make significant financial decisions. Researchers surveyed 211 equine veterinarians worldwide, presenting four radiographic series of the navicular bone, tarsus and stifle at progressive severity levels (normal through marked pathology) alongside case scenarios varying by discipline, work status and buyer intent, then asked participants to rate their clinical concern on a scale of 1–10. Whilst concern generally increased proportionally with pathological severity across all anatomical sites, responses showed wide variability at every pathology grade; notably, board-certified practitioners rated marked navicular changes as more concerning than non-certified colleagues (mean 7.2 vs. 6.1), yet paradoxically rated equivalent tarsal pathology as less concerning (7.1 vs. 8.0), and western performance specialists demonstrated lower concern for mild tarsal changes regardless of performance status (3.3 vs. 4.2). This divergence in interpretation—shaped by certification status, discipline specialisation and potentially buyer context—underscores a genuine problem for equine professionals: the same radiographic findings may yield contradictory purchase recommendations depending on which veterinarian reviews the case. Practitioners should recognise these biases in their own decision-making, consider seeking second opinions on borderline cases, and engage in transparent discussions with clients about the inherent subjectivity in radiographic assessment.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •When obtaining radiographic pre-purchase evaluations, seek multiple opinions or board-certified specialists, as interpretation and risk tolerance vary substantially among practitioners—this variability could significantly impact purchase decisions.
- •Be aware that your own board certification status and primary discipline (western vs. English) likely influence your perception of radiographic findings; consider seeking a second opinion from a different specialist type for borderline cases.
- •Document the specific pathological grade and anatomical location on radiographs rather than relying on verbal interpretation alone, as the same radiographic finding may generate concern scores ranging from 1-10 across different veterinarians.
Key Findings
- •Wide variability exists in veterinarian interpretation of radiographic abnormalities across all pathological grades, despite concern generally increasing with severity of change.
- •Board-certified practitioners showed significantly higher concern for marked navicular changes (7.2 vs 6.1; P=0.009) but lower concern for marked tarsal changes (7.1 vs 8.0; P=0.008) compared to non-board-certified colleagues.
- •Western performance horse specialists demonstrated significantly lower concern for mild tarsal radiographic changes (3.3 vs 4.2; P=0.009) regardless of horse working status.
- •Veterinarian recommendations for purchase suitability based on radiographs are highly variable and influenced by board certification status, primary discipline, and horse discipline/working level.