How to Obtain Digital Radiographs of the Thoracolumbar Spine in the Standing Horse

The accessibility of digital radiography (DR) provides a means for equine practitioners to obtain high-quality diagnostic images of the back in the standing horse. In the past, the use of conventional films has discouraged many equine veterinarians from performing comprehensive radiographic examinations of the back, because their size and thickness restricted the quality of the image. DR systems have facilitated detection of lesions in the thoracolumbar spine in horses with clinical manifestations of back pain by enhancing specific viewing areas. This allows for more effective diagnosis. It is important to evaluate the thoracolumbar vertebrae in their entirety, because several radiographic abnormalities can concurrently result in the existence of back pain. In a practice setting with DR and high-output X-ray equipment, it is technically feasible to gather quality diagnostic views of the first thoracic vertebrae to approximately the fourth lumbar vertebrae, which includes the dorsal spinous processes, articular processes, and vertebral bodies. At our private practice, we have radiographed the thoracolumbar spines of 386 horses since 2004. Radiographic findings in horses with back discomfort often include the following: 1. Dorsal spinous process impingement 2. Osteoarthritis of the articular processes 3. Spondylosis 4. Supraspinous ligament trauma 5. Interspinous ligament trauma 6. Fractures 7. Congenital defects