KLEIDER VETERINARY SERVICES
SINCE 1978 OVER 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

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Fluoroscopic Bone Scanning

How would you like to look at a screen which shows x-rays of your horse's legs, instantly and continuously as he stands, flexes or extends his limbs?

The technology of seeing a continuous live x-ray picture of your horse on a television monitor is now available to you. A hand held scanner in the shape of a C-arm is manipulated around your horse's leg as you and Dr. Kleider observe the screen for any signs of bone damage.

The advantage of the scanner over regular x-rays are:

  • Instantaneous Results. No lag time between taking x-rays, developing them and conveying the results while playing telephone tag.
  • Accurate Diagnosis. Many times with regular x-rays the correct view or exposure setting has not been taken, requiring either a guess of the diagnosis or a repeat visit to take further x-rays. . Now with digital rads correct exposure is a non issue but positioning can still be a problem.
  • Increased Efficiency. Your time is valuable and we can scan a whole leg in the same amount of time it takes to x-ray just one joint.
  • Consistent Quality. No blurry x-rays! Slight movement of the horse can ruin normal x-rays while the scanner is a motion study.
  • Cost Effectiveness. The cost of x-raying a horse from top to bottom with enough conventional x-ray plates to reach an accurate diagnosis is so expensive that most horsemen ask for x-rays of certain areas. The cost of scanning a whole leg is similar to that of x-raying one joint.

Some Specific Applications of Fluoroscopy Which Demonstrate These Advantages Are:

  • Emergency Fractures can be assessed and managed immediately.
  • Pre purchase Exams are most efficient. The whole musculoskeletal system can be scanned and the results conveyed simultaneously.
  • Monitoring During Surgery And Needle Placement. Anatomically challenging procedures such as inserting needles into various joints or area in the skull can be monitored and confirmed by scanning. Scanning insures proper alignment of screws during surgery for fracture repair. Scanning also is used for monitoring chip fragment removal.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Dr. Kleider uses the hand held scanner to examine the knee joint in this Thoroughbred race horse (figures 1& 2). As he manipulates the C-arm arm he watches the live results on a TV monitor.

Compared to conventional x-rays, the amount of radiation emitted is very low. While it is considered very safe, proper radiation protection procedures, such as the special vests worn in the above picture, are still followed.

Fluoroscopy gives instantaneous results, accurate diagnosis, and is less expensive than most x-ray procedures.

In addition to showing the live image on the TV screen, this equipment (figure 3) provides you with a hard copy DVD for documentation and medical records

Fluoroscopy is particularly useful in the assessment of emergency fractures, pre purchase exams, and monitoring during surgery.

Any area that can be encircled by the C-arm can be scanned successfully. Most of the stifle and skull are easily examined.

Some Questions You Might Have About Fluoroscopy:

  • How Safe Is This Procedure? X-ray scanning, better known as fluoroscopy is not new. An example of older fluoroscopes are the units that were available at shoe stores in the 1950's. It was a gimmick where one could see the bones of the feet inside the new shoes you were purchasing. These old units emitted a very high amount of radiation and were very unsafe. The equine unit that we have runs with very low MAS settings and has an auto shut off if used for too long a period. It is considered very safe but proper radiation protection procedures must still be followed.
  • Since Fluoroscopy Is A Live Procedure Can One Obtain A Hard Copy Of A Problem Area? Fluoroscopic images are easily digitalized. We presently record images on DVD and present owners with copies. These do not lose resolution as pictures did and offer a movie of the procedure
  • How Clear Are The Pictures? Now with digital rads correct exposure is a non issue but positioning can still be a problem. At this point a decision may be made as to whether conventional radiology would be useful.
  • What Areas Are "Scannable"? Any area that the C-arm can encircle is "scannable". The majority of the stifle and skull are areas easily examined. Parts of the elbow and cranial shoulder can also be viewed.
  • Foot x-rays require high resolution and the horse cannot stand on the C-arm so these are done with digital radiography where the horse can stand on a “tunnel” for the sensor plate.
  • Can The Procedure Be Done At The Farm? This equipment has proven to be too delicate for farm use and is currently only available at the clinic.

Kleider Veterinary Services
8036 - 232 Street RR#6 Langley, British Columbia V1M 3R8
Office (604) 888-7565 Fax: (604) 888-4033
nkleider@aol.com