Xray Guru’s - Share your experience (Pls)

[pryme_thyme]

Hello all, I truly value all the years of knowledge on this forum. I was hoping someone could help me learn how to read X-rays better? (If you would please!)

Background: This is my own 4y/o Hanoverian, will be trained in low-mid level dressage, he’s sound as can be, NO reaction to flexions, X-rays were requested before starting him under saddle as baselines. The two hind fetlocks came back with some minor changes. (…yet I’m struggling to see anything myself).
My vet doesn’t really give personal opinions, rather suggestions to speak to specialists. Specialist was very black and white with options.
‘Could remove now or wait to see if any effusion and then take action’.

I tend to live in the, if they are sound, let them be and monitor.

What do you see in the image? What would your choice of action be?

TYIA!!

[anonevent]

Just out of curiosity, was the specialist a radiologist, a surgeon, or a different specialty?

[pryme_thyme]

That is a good question! I didn’t actually look into their title, I will however!

[theresak]

Is there a chip? I’d ask some TB people how often they remove chips in hind fetlocks and outcomes.

[Demerara_Stables]

I don’t have any comments on the X-ray itself, but could your vet circle exactly what she’s seeing? My vet does that on PPE and then I look up other X-rays on the good ol google (ideally normal ones and a few different horses). That helps me to see what my vet sees.

[pryme_thyme]

That is actually a good idea. I’m going to shoot off a text. I feel like a total moron. Love our vet for the care but he looks at me like I have five heads. Utterly embarrassing

[pryme_thyme]

This is what I was thinking, I’ve done so much googling just to understand myself (not that it matters if I understand), but that is the only area I could possibly think

[Demerara_Stables]

Don’t feel like a moron! I spent years looking at x-rays as a tech but there are blatant things that it takes me awhile to see now 🤦🏻

[sara78]

Yes it looks liké a chip

[Critter]

For what it’s worth…my now 19 yo gelding was 3 when I bought him. They found a small chip in the fetlock (actually it was there on the prelim xrays and supposedly his xrays were clean, then I sent the xrays to my vet and the chip was noted). They deducted the cost of the surgery to remove the chip from his price.

My vet (who did loads of racehorses) had no concerns about his chip as it was sitting outside the joint/weight bearing area. Had it been in the joint space, it would have been a different decision. He was sound. We never did any surgery. He has never been lame from that chip (okay, he’s done lots of other dorky things, but never an issue related to the chip! LOL).

That’s where getting a second or third opinion can help…but I am glad we didn’t jump in on the aggressive treatment with my guy!

[pryme_thyme]

Thank you so much! Truly appreciate this!

From what I’ve been reading there is evidently more risk by doing the surgery now (risk of infection in a joint), versus the wait as see method considering he is presently sound.

It’s a tough call. Either way, I’m okay with doing the procedure should he require it. Gut just says leave it for now…

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

I’ve always been taught that chips are like real estate - all about that location, location, location!

If they are in the joint space, they aggravate, cause inflammation and can cause problems down the line.

If they are not in the joint space, to enter and remove will cause aggravation, cause inflammation and could contribute (maybe!) to problems down the line.

What would I do? Pay for a specialist radiology referral to a vet hospital, to get an opinion on whether this should be removed now (if that is a chip I spy there) or whether you can monitor (BF 1 year to re-X-ray??). You want a true expert specialist opinion on this, rather than guessing.