Bone Scan Stories

[wishfulthinking711]

Okay tell me your bone scan stories. I have a wonderful OTTB gelding that could take the rated circuit by storm if I could ever get him to stay sound! For the past few years he has been battling issues that never seem to end. He had a hematoma on his right hind thoroughpin (was completely sound for a year prior). Nobody, not even a leg specialist could find anything on ultrasound. Then he contracted EPM and we treated. Then his front feet were sore because after x-rays he had 2 mm of sole. We built up the sole and he still was not right. Now he has no heel in the back we think that his making his back and whole hind end sore because he goes great until he jumps a few jumps. He is very good at saying OWWW. Currently have corrective shoes on the hind. I get him chiro and acupuncture and find his pelvis was completely tilted. The next day I finally enter him in a show and an hour later he had a giant gash in his right hind leg that needed stitched up. Finally a month later I am able to ride him again and when I started trotting I had the best floaty trot I have ever felt on him. It did not last long however and when I rode him last night he refused to lift his back at all (which he always does naturally) and had the shortest stride I have every felt. So my vet says lets check for kissing spine. We decided to go to Leesburg and get him a bone scan to see ALL of his issues since we fix one and something else pops up. So tell me your stories and about how much everything cost. Even if I can only fix one problem at a time I want to see WHERE all the issues are.

My problem child needs wrapped in bubble wrap

[Dune]

I’ve never had much luck with them. If you suspect soft tissue injuries/findings, you really need to narrow it down to one or two places because the soft tissue phase only lasts about 15 minutes, then the isotope diffuses into the bones. If you are suspecting multiple boney issues, then this is your modality! Even if the back lights up like a Christmas tree, you are still going to have to x-ray. Does a vet suspect that as the primary issue? Honestly, it sounds like you just have a bit of a hot-house flower (no offense, I have one too ;-)) and have had a string of bad luck.

[mfglickman]

We did one on our Hunter pony who was just nqr - previously loved to jump but over several months became less enthused about it - never refused but just didn’t look happy doing her job. No specific soreness or lameness.

Did a bone scan and some easy contenders showed up mild - hocks and a knee - but by far the brightest lights came from one hip! Never would have found it. Injected hocks and knees, ultrasound guided injection of hip, and put her in wide webs for good measure. She’s jumping better now than ever before.

Really glad we did the scan - I don’t know how we would ever have found that painful hip. Guessing she tweaked herself in turnout, maybe a wrong step on icy ground, over the rough winter.

So that’s my very limited but positive experience.

[wishfulthinking711]

[QUOTE=Dune;8261082]
I’ve never had much luck with them. If you suspect soft tissue injuries/findings, you really need to narrow it down to one or two places because the soft tissue phase only lasts about 15 minutes, then the isotope diffuses into the bones. If you are suspecting multiple boney issues, then this is your modality! Even if the back lights up like a Christmas tree, you are still going to have to x-ray. Does a vet suspect that as the primary issue? Honestly, it sounds like you just have a bit of a hot-house flower (no offense, I have one too ;-)) and have had a string of bad luck.[/QUOTE]

The reason we are both for it right now is that he has so many issues that we do know know the main reason for it. So I guess i would rather know everywhere where he is hurting first instead of finding something and treating just to have something else pop up as soon as I have him under saddle again. I have been doing this for 2 years now!

[wishfulthinking711]

[QUOTE=mfglickman;8261192]
We did one on our Hunter pony who was just nqr - previously loved to jump but over several months became less enthused about it - never refused but just didn’t look happy doing her job. No specific soreness or lameness.

Did a bone scan and some easy contenders showed up mild - hocks and a knee - but by far the brightest lights came from one hip! Never would have found it. Injected hocks and knees, ultrasound guided injection of hip, and put her in wide webs for good measure. She’s jumping better now than ever before.

Really glad we did the scan - I don’t know how we would ever have found that painful hip. Guessing she tweaked herself in turnout, maybe a wrong step on icy ground, over the rough winter.

So that’s my very limited but positive experience. :)[/QUOTE]

Wow that is great. I hope my experience is similar and I can actually find AND fix the problems!!

[LessSugarMoreSpice]

My mare became NQR and nothing appeared on x-ray or ultrasound. We did a bone scan and got to the root of the issue which was stemming from two fetlocks. We addressed the issue and she is doing very well now. We did a bone scan and soft tissue scan, they take multiple images for you, and in south Florida the cost was about $2,200.

[Dune]

[QUOTE=wishfulthinking711;8261238]
The reason we are both for it right now is that he has so many issues that we do know know the main reason for it. So I guess i would rather know everywhere where he is hurting first instead of finding something and treating just to have something else pop up as soon as I have him under saddle again. I have been doing this for 2 years now![/QUOTE]

I feel your pain, I really do. If it’s boney, you’ll most likely find it. If soft tissue is the main problem, that will be more difficult. Keep us posted, would be wonderful to hear the outcome. I’m not a fan of this modality except in certain cases (and I’ve not had one of those, lol!) , but I know other folks have had success. Just didn’t want you to go in with false hopes.

[riopony]

I had one done on my OTTB for a suspected SI problem. After a year of guessing the vet said it would be cheaper to just do the scan rather than piece-mealing it. Both sides of his SI did light up, a little in his front feet (no surprise, had been working on those) and a spot in his withers.

We x-rayed the withers and saw an old fracture. Vet figured that was the last of the problems to deal with. We injected both SI, continued corrective shoeing, and I started slowly bringing him into work.

5 weeks in he did a hind suspensory in the same leg he has done a DDFT in the winter before. We were only trotting 5 mins on long lines so I don’t know if this was older. The vet said scan wouldn’t have picked it up.

Sadly just had to put him down a week ago. He was in a lot of pain and was getting very dangerous because of it. I’m not sure if we found all his issues as he appeared to have lived in intense pain the 3.5 years I owned him.

The scan, extra x-Ray and injection was like $2500. The vet cut me a huge break because I didn’t have insurance and was pretty pathetic haha. A whole body scan is normally about $2200 in NH area.

[slp2]

I had one done on my mare for a suspected SI problem as well. The vet I was working with, was a equine back specialist, and recommended it. It DID light up in the SI region–but it was not a bony issue. It was ligament damage–however, there was enough inflammation that it pinpointed the problem area. The vet ultrasounded in that area, and found the ligament damage. It also ruled out any possible kissing spine, hock issues, etc. Then we could proceed with rehab. My friends horse had it done and they found a fracture in the pelvis that they couldn’t find previously.

I wish I had done it way sooner! I worked with several vets who were scratching their heads, and trying treatments (for a variety of things) that didn’t work. I’m sure I spent way more money (and time) on that, than the cost of the bone scan. Was very helpful for my situation. Good luck with your horse.

[wishfulthinking711]

@riopony;8262864

Sadly just had to put him down a week ago. He was in a lot of pain and was getting very dangerous because of it. I’m not sure if we found all his issues as he appeared to have lived in intense pain the 3.5 years I owned him.

I am so sorry for your loss

My vet did warn me that there are rare cases where nothing lights up so I am prepared I am just hoping SOMETHING lights up…rather than 6 things lighting up!

He is schedule for Wednesday. Fingers crossed and I will definitely give updates. I definitely would like to rule out more than I find but we shall see. I was estimated $1700 for the scan and the stay not including any diagnostics. I have definitely spent way more than that over the last two year trying to figure out his many issues. Unfortunately, by the time I figured out I should probably get insurance on him he had too many previous issues!

[findthedistance]

I did a bone scan on my mare with nonspecific training issues but no observable lameness – strongly suspected back & possibly also SI. In my case it confirmed kissing spines and SI inflammation, as well as pointing out a couple other things to keep tabs on going forward. After a year of playing the pain vs training guessing game, it was good to just KNOW. Totally worth the money to me.

[Obiwan]

My horse took a pasture fall on ice, tweaked his back, did all the chiro/ massage/ acupuncture/ time off/ bute/ robaxin/ adequan that the vet recommended and then some. He didn’t come back quite right and had wayyy too much soreness in his back. long story short after a year of time off, bunch of x-rays and shooting into the dark for possible causes finally they recommend a bone scan. Had it done at Tufts and it cost a smidgen over 3k. Was for all purposes inconclusive, the only flares were incredibly mild in his stifles and they said in another scan they wouldn’t even be noteworthy. Injected the stifles and nothing. So with him it didn’t help much.

Although a friend of mine had a horse with an inconsistent lameness in her horses front left that was obviously there but the leg got blocked all the way to the elbow and nothing. Got sent for a bone scan and they found a bit of arthritis in his neck (deep down) injected it and he’s been sound as a dime and a jaw dropping mover ever since!

[Dune]

@slp2;8262901

I had one done on my mare for a suspected SI problem as well. The vet I was working with, was a equine back specialist, and recommended it. It DID light up in the SI region–but it was not a bony issue. It was ligament damage–however, there was enough inflammation that it pinpointed the problem area. The vet ultrasounded in that area, and found the ligament damage. It also ruled out any possible kissing spine, hock issues, etc. Then we could proceed with rehab. My friends horse had it done and they found a fracture in the pelvis that they couldn’t find previously.

I just want to make the comment that yes, soft tissue injuries can/will show up on the soft tissue phase IF they are imaged. A bone scan is not “just a bone scan”. It’s just that you need to narrow it down so that you have time during that phase to take the pictures. I would say that if you suspect neck/back/SI issues, this is your modality. For other body parts (most of them anyway) you can block to pinpoint and then x-ray/ultrasound. OP, please keep us posted!

[wishfulthinking711]

Okay trip completed!

The bone scan let to several interesting things. First of all, it lit up in his head. Nothing shows up on x-ray. Then he was worried about hind suspensory disease since the area of both hind suspensories lit up. After blocking, he was sound before getting to the suspensory so he is no longer concerned about that (thank goodness).

He had all 4 feet light up but said he thought it was normal for it to light up there. Well, nope, we found out he is born with crappy feet!!! Once all four hooves were blocked he was perfectly sound. So we injected coffin joints up front and are changing to a padded shoe. Behind he has wedges which he is hurting from so he is switching to a modified rocker with possible pads as well.

Coffin joints need injected every 2-3 months. Also he cannot be ridden on hard surfaces. As my grass arena is not soft at home I have to now board him. At least the place is gorgeous with an indoor and an outdoor but geez!!

I asked him to shoot an x-ray of his spine to rule out kissing spine even though it was not showing up on bone scan. He is perplexed. Said any kissing spine should show up on bone scan. Well he has “almost” kissing spine. Two are very close another one might be touching. We are not treating as of yet because he was not sensitive when he palpated and the bone scan said nothing was there. If the feet get fixed and he is still not right then we discuss injecting the back or possible kissing spine surgery.

So not career ending like I thought but my pocketbook is incredibly lighter.

[silverdog]

WOW. I had a friend who had a bone scan and nothing really lite up. Local vet swore up and down it was SI. The horse’s behavior screamed back to me (yes I am experienced with KS). I told her to get him xrayed by someone good (previous xrays showed nothing but were done with crap equipment) and what do you know. 1 big nasty KS lesion.

[wishfulthinking711]

That is so odd. I mean he was shocked and said it about 5 times how shocked he was. Hopefully it is not true kissing spine. It is “almost” kissing spine that could be something possibly.

[Dune]

[QUOTE=wishfulthinking711;8271828]
Okay trip completed!

The bone scan let to several interesting things. First of all, it lit up in his head. Nothing shows up on x-ray. Then he was worried about hind suspensory disease since the area of both hind suspensories lit up. After blocking, he was sound before getting to the suspensory so he is no longer concerned about that (thank goodness).

He had all 4 feet light up but said he thought it was normal for it to light up there. Well, nope, we found out he is born with crappy feet!!! Once all four hooves were blocked he was perfectly sound. So we injected coffin joints up front and are changing to a padded shoe. Behind he has wedges which he is hurting from so he is switching to a modified rocker with possible pads as well.

Coffin joints need injected every 2-3 months. Also he cannot be ridden on hard surfaces. As my grass arena is not soft at home I have to now board him. At least the place is gorgeous with an indoor and an outdoor but geez!!

I asked him to shoot an x-ray of his spine to rule out kissing spine even though it was not showing up on bone scan. He is perplexed. Said any kissing spine should show up on bone scan. Well he has “almost” kissing spine. Two are very close another one might be touching. We are not treating as of yet because he was not sensitive when he palpated and the bone scan said nothing was there. If the feet get fixed and he is still not right then we discuss injecting the back or possible kissing spine surgery.

So not career ending like I thought but my pocketbook is incredibly lighter.[/QUOTE]

What part of his head lit up? That is fascinating! The fact that said horsie has “almost kissing spine” is not necessarily a big deal. Because the bone scan did not light up, it most likely is not bothering him at this time. That’s what the bone scan is designed to tell you: More uptake=More pain/remodeling/etc. Horses can have ALL sorts of “jewelry” and it may or may not be bothering them. Case in point: Because of some extreme pain in my shoulder a few years ago, I had an MRI done. They found partial tears in 3 out of 4 rotator cuff muscles. After an injection and PT, I no longer have pain in my shoulder, to the point of I don’t even think about it anymore. The tears are still there but not painful.

@silverdog;8271867

WOW. I had a friend who had a bone scan and nothing really lite up. Local vet swore up and down it was SI. The horse’s behavior screamed back to me (yes I am experienced with KS). I told her to get him xrayed by someone good (previous xrays showed nothing but were done with crap equipment) and what do you know. 1 big nasty KS lesion.

I’m curious what they did to treat and did it help?

@wishfulthinking711;8271876

That is so odd. I mean he was shocked and said it about 5 times how shocked he was. Hopefully it is not true kissing spine. It is “almost” kissing spine that could be something possibly.

As I said above, I would hope this would mean that it’s simply not bothering him at this point and may not ever be an issue.

[TullyMars]

Was it at the TMJ that lit up on scan?

[wishfulthinking711]

It was the sinuses of the ethmoid area now that I went back and looked it up ha!

[TullyMars]

Very interesting. Thanks!