The Stifle – Scan It or Scope It

While survey radiographs provide superior examination of bony lesions, they provide minimal information about soft tissue structures (Dik, 1995). Furthermore, the use of doublecontrast arthrography does not appear to aid in the diagnosis of equine stifle injuries (Nickels & Sande, 1982). The radiographic findings of meniscal injury are non-specific and there is minimal correlation between radiographic findings and arthroscopic findings (Koneberg & Edinger, 2007) (Desjardins & Hurtig, 1991). While the value of radiography in the identification of soft tissue injuries themselves is minimal, it may provide complementary information when performed in addition to ultrasound and can be beneficial in determining prognosis in more chronic cases (Dik, 1995) (Penninck, 1990) (Walmsley, 2003).