Use of multisite quantitative ultrasonography for noninvasive assessment of bone in horses.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the usefulness of multisite quantitative ultrasonography for noninvasive assessment of bone in horses.


METHODS
12 healthy horses and both forelimbs from 8 clinically normal horses.


METHODS
For in vivo measurements, various regions of interest (ROI) were examined on the third metacarpal bone, radius, and tibia. Precision error for speed of sound (SOS) measurements was obtained by measuring each ROI of 4 horses 10 times with probe repositioning. Additionally, 3 operators measured each aspect of the third metacarpal bone of 6 horses 5 times each. For ex vivo measurements, third metacarpal bones were examined at 9 ROI, and SOS measurements were performed before and after soft tissue removal. One ROI of a single forelimb was subjected to 96 ex vivo measurements with 3 different contact media.


RESULTS
The lateral aspect of the third metacarpal bone had significantly higher SOS values than the dorsal and medial aspect of the third metacarpal bone. No difference was obtained between SOS values of the lateral and medial aspect of the radius. The tibia had significantly higher SOS values than the lateral aspect of the radius and the dorsal and medial aspect of the third metacarpal bone. Intraoperator coefficients of variation ranged from 0.62 to 3.15%, and interoperator coefficients of variation ranged from 0.78 to 2.70%. Values of SOS were highest when silicone oil was used as the contact medium.


CONCLUSIONS
Speed of sound measurements obtained by quantitative ultrasonography in axial transmission mode can be used to precisely measure superficial cortical bone properties of third metacarpal bone, radius, and tibia in horses.
Carstanjen
Bianca
B
Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Belgium.
Lepage
Olivier M
OM
Detilleux
Johann
J
Duboeuf
François
F
Amory
Hélène
H
D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002350:Carpus, Animal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006262:Health; D006736:Horses; D011884:Radius / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*