Front & Hind Limb Radiology

1. EQUINE MEDICINE
Large Animal Radiology: Digital X-Ray Front & Hind Limb

2. Equine Skeletal System

3. RADIOGRAPH PRINCIPALS
Portable machine most commonly used
FFD 20-30 cm
(aka source-image distance (SID))
Cassette Marker-Cranial or lateral to limb
Animal Positioning: Feet square
Weight evenly distributed

4. Radiographic Aids
Wooden Block:
Allows cassette to extend below
hoof
Cassette Tunnel:
Allows animal to stand on
cassette
Navicular Box:
Supports foot for easier
navicular films
Cassette Holder:
Tunnel with long handle
Allows holder to be away from animal &
primary beam

5. Radiographic Aids

6. Hoof Preparation
Requires additional preparation
Hoof should be cleaned of debris
Trim sole & frog
Remove shoe for some views
Pack sulci of frog & sole to eliminate artifacts

7. Hoof
Minimum of 5 standard views
Lateromedial View
Patient Placement: Weight bearing on block
Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of limb
On ground, perpendicular to ground
Beam Center: Parallel to ground
Centered at coronary band

8. Hoof
Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar View
Patient Position: Weight bearing on block
Cassette Placement: On ground, along
palmar/plantar aspect on limb
Perpendicular to ground
Beam Center: Parallel to ground
Centered at coronary band

9. Hoof
Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar Distal Phalanx View
Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel
Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground, in cassette tunnel
Beam Center: Proximodistal at 60º angle
Centered just distal to coronary band
60º
Navicular Box
Patient Placement: Affected limb flexed, toe in stand
Cassette Placement: In stand, under foot
Beam Center: Parallel to ground
Centered at coronary band

10. Hoof
Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel
Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground, in cassette tunnel
Beam Center: Proximodistal at 65º angle
Centered at middle of P2
Dorsoproximal-Palmarodistal Oblique
Patient Placement: Affected limb flexed, toe in stand
Cassette Placement: In stand, under foot
Beam Center: Parallel to ground
Centered at coronary band
65º

11. Hoof
Palmaroproximal-Dorsodistal Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette,
extended caudally
Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground
In cassette tunnel
Beam Center: 45º angle, proximodistal
Between heel bulbs
45º

12. Hoof: Additional Views
Dorsolateral-Palmaromedial Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel
Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground in tunnel
Beam Center: 60º proximodistally
45º off true dorsopalmar
Just distal to coronary band
60º PD
45º Obl

13. Hoof: Additional Views
Dorsomedial-Palmarolateral Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing on cassette tunnel
Cassette Placement: Parallel to ground in tunnel
Beam Center: 60º proximodistally
45º off true dorsopalmar
Just distal to coronary band
60º PD
45º Obl

14. Fetlock
Minimum of 5 standard views
Lateromedial View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of
leg, perpendicular to ground
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered on joint

15. Fetlock
Dorsopalmar/Dorsoplantar View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement:
Palmar/Plantar aspect of leg, on ground
Parallel to pastern angle
Beam Center: 20º proximal to distal
Centered on joint

16. Fetlock
Dorsolateral-Palmaromedial Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Palmaromedial aspect of limb
Parallel to pastern angle
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered at joint 45º dorsolateral to
true dorsopalmar
45º DL

17. Fetlock
Dorsomedial-Palmarolateral Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Palmarolateral aspect of limb
Parallel to pastern angle
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered at joint 45º dorsomedial to
true dorsopalmar
45º DM

18. Fetlock
Flexed Lateral View
Patient Position: Affected limb flexed with handler
holding hoof
Cassette Placement: Medial side of limb, parallel to
limb
Beam Center: Parallel to ground
Centered at joint

19. Carpus
5 standard views
Lateromedial View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of leg
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered on joint

20. Carpus
Dorsopalmar View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Palmar aspect of leg
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered at carpus

21. Carpus
Dorsolateral-Palmaromedial Oblique View
Patient Placement: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Palmaromedial
aspect of limb
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered at middle of carpus
30º off true lateromedial
30º off LM

22. Carpus
Dorsomedial-Palmarolateral Oblique View
Patient Placement: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Palmarolateral
aspect of limb
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered at middle of carpus
30º off true mediolateral
30º off ML

23. Carpus
Flexed Lateromedial View
Patient Position:
Affected limb flexed 60º,
handler holding hoof
Cassette Placement:
Medial side of limb, centered at
joint
Beam Center: Parallel to ground
Centered between proximal &
distal rows of carpal bones

24. Tarsus
4 standard views
Lateromedial View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Medial aspect of limb
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered on proximal
intertarsal joint

25. Tarsus
Dorsoplantar View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Plantar aspect of limb
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered on proximal
intertarsal joint

26. Tarsus
Dorsolateral-Plantarmedial Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Plantaromedial aspect of limb
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered on proximal
intertarsal joint 45º off
true lateromedial
45º off LM

27. Tarsus
Dorsomedial-Plantarolateral Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Plantarolateral aspect of limb
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered on proximal intertarsal joint 45º off true mediolateral
45º off ML

28. Stifle
3 standard views
Lateromedial View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Medial aspect as
dorsal as possible
Beam Center: Parallel to floor
Centered on joint
Femoral condyles superimposed

29. Stifle
Caudocranial View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Cranial aspect of joint
Parallel to limb angle
Beam Center: Angled parallel to limb proximodistally
Direct toward midsagittal plane
Centered on joint

30. Stifle
Caudolateral-Craniomedial Oblique View
Patient Position: Weight bearing
Cassette Placement: Dorsomedial aspect of limb,
as dorsal as possible
Beam Center: Caudolateral at 30º angle
Lateral to the caudal midsagittal plane
Centered at joint
30º Caudolateral