Comparison of intraosseous and intravenous infusion of technetium Tc 99m pertechnate in the distal portion of forelimbs in standing horses by use of scintigraphic imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To describe and compare the distribution of technetium Tc 99m (99mTc) pertechnate following intraosseous or i.v. injection (with or without use of a tourniquet) in the distal portion of the forelimb in standing horses.


METHODS
4 horses.


METHODS
Each horse received 4 forelimb treatments in random sequence: intraosseous infusion with tourniquet application (IOT), intraosseous infusion without tourniquet application, i.v infusion with tourniquet application (IVT), and i.v. infusion without tourniquet application. Dynamic nuclear scintigraphic imaging of the third metacarpal bone, proximal and middle phalanges, and distal phalanx was performed from the start of each treatment until 1 hour after infusion was completed. Radionuclide activity was compared within and between treatment groups.


RESULTS
Tourniquet application was necessary to maintain high levels of radionuclide activity in the distal portion of the forelimb after intraosseous or i.v. infusion with 99mTc pertechnate; IVT and IOT treatments resulted in similar radionuclide activity in the proximal and middle phalanges and distal phalanx. Of the 4 treatments, there was significantly higher radionuclide activity in the distal aspect of the third metacarpal bone after the IOT treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
By use of a tourniquet, radionuclide administration via the intraosseous or i.v. routes resulted in effective perfusion of the distal portion of the forelimb and similar distribution of the agent in the phalanges of horses. Further studies are required to ascertain whether these findings apply to delivery of therapeutic agents in infected tissues via IOT or IVT.
Mattson
Shawn E
SE
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
Pearce
Simon G
SG
Bouré
Ludovic P
LP
Dobson
Howard
H
Hurtig
Mark B
MB
Black
William D
WD
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006736:Horses / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D017148:Infusions, Intraosseous / Q000662:veterinary; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000662:veterinary
D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m