Diagnostic imaging of the foot during prepurchase examination of sport horses

What is it about?

Radiographs of the foot are regularly acquired by the field veterinary practitioners during equine prepurchase examination. This article reviews the technical settings and interpretation guidelines in that context. It explains how to avoid artefacts, and reviews the normal anatomical variations to be recognized from pathology.

Featured Image

Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash

Photo by Philippe Oursel on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The foot is a common site of injury in sport horses, leading to its routine evaluation at prepurchase. However, many artefacts occur that may hinder the diagnosis, and normal anatomical variations are possible, which both may lead to overdiagnosis and inappropriate client advice. This article helps the practitioner to avoid these pitfalls.