Improvements of advanced imaging and the increased utilize of this medical technology on the route are crucial for the identification of potential hotspots in rakehorses, which leads to treatment before minor problems transform into catastrophic problems.
With the multifaceted approach of sport to improve horse safety, this technology was an vital instrument to reduce such incidents in the 15 years in which they were followed by the Jockey Club Equine Injury database.
In the past ten years and increasingly in the past five years, advanced imaging plays a leading role in improving the safety of the rader horse. The imaging includes several scan modes that have improved the ability of the veterinarians to discover bone problems earlier and more comprehensively than were previously able to do through radiography (X -rays) and ultrasound.
What started as a research project at the University of California-Davis less than a decade ago, scan modalities such as PET scans (positron emission tomography), CT or CAT scans, MRTS, MRTS (magnetic resonance imaging) and nuclear scintigraphy for utilize in horses that were identified as sheltered training You have sure to result in secure training and races.
Dr. Stuart Brown, Vice President for Equine Safety KeenelandSaid that a three -stage approach to the security of horses from last year's conference of the American Association of Equine Practitioners was released. The first level consists of the measurement and selection of horses of interest due to bone problems or the potential for these problems. The second level is the identification of the limb from which lameness emanates, and the third party includes the utilize of advanced imaging.
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“Areas in which the bone burdened us are not often available to have observed with customary forms of imaging such as digital radiography,” said Brown. “The PET scan technology can show us areas with vigorous bone conversion.”
Using statistics, which were put together by the oath, the veterinarians learned that 85% of the injuries to the musculoskeletal system occurring in the racing horses have the fetlock, the joint on which the cannon bones, the sesamoid bones and the long pasters occur above the Hoof.
“Advanced imaging that gives us the ability to have an impact on preventing fetlock failure itself would be a monumental step to move the needle to prevent injuries to the horse,” said Brown.
In PET scan technology, a sodium-based radium isotope is injected into the horse (just as it is done when the technology is used to evaluate humans). The isotope acts as a marker. It is looking for metabolic activity in the bone, whereby the areas appear as lithe, highlighted spots. The technology can identify changes and prevent potential fractures before they occur.
Santa Anita Park Was the world's first racetrack that installed a PET scan on his premises. In Kentucky, where clinics such as Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute are located near the enormous racetracks, horses are more likely to refer to an off-track facility for advanced imaging. By an arrangement with Hagyard, however, Churchill Downs Now a PET scan is operating on site.
A typical scenario would begin if a trainer, a participating veterinarian or a regulatory veterinarian identifies a horse that shows a problem area. Ultrasound and/or X -rays can be carried out on the route, but if you cannot determine the type of problem, advanced imaging comes into play. The horse will receive another lameness test in the clinic.
“We look at the activity of bone sales,” said Dr. Katie Garrett, director of diagnostic imaging at Rood & Riddle in Lexington. “When a horse trains, the cargo increases and the bone becomes a response to the work that you request. We are worried when the bone is too much to do too early. As soon as we have found that we ask too much of you an individual so that you cannot pursue a cookie cutter approach-we can go forward.
“There are two types of imaging. X -rays and CT scans are both structural imaging modalities that tell us the structure of the bone, like the scaffolding in a building.
“We have had bone cans for decades, but the PET scan is more sensitive and gives us a more precise anatomical place. It gives us quantitative information and a specific idea of where the problem takes place in the bone.”
PET and CT scans can combine to confirm cases such as fractures that could benefit from the insertion of a screw. However, the good news for the racing environment is that many of the injuries diagnosed by advanced imaging can be solved by removing the horse from training for a period of training to give the bone time to meet what is asked. Voter participation is often recommended to give the animal a certain amount of movement, and it is preferable to prefer the idle state, which inhibits the development of bones.
In 2019, a rash of catastrophic collapse recorded in Southern California. In addition to the loss of horses and risks of drivers, the deaths of horses also led to a disaster in public relations and demanded the termination of racing. Dr. Dionne Benson was brought in by 1/st racing, which Santa Anita Park belongs and Golden Gate FieldsAs Chief Veterinary Officer to monitor security protocols. The PET scan was an vital instrument for reducing injury rates.
“Our death rate has been greatly reduced since 2019 and the PET scan is part of it,” Benson noted. “It enables us to catch things that we cannot see beforehand. We can now see the sesamoid bones on the back of the ankle and change the metabolism there. It takes up vigorous bone conversion so that it is almost in front of the fracture.
The PET scan in Santa Anita Park was presented in 2019
“We are now doing more than 100 pet scans per year because the veterinarians and practitioners present have accepted the technology. The biggest restriction we have is to maintain the radium isotope because it is medication, and people have the first priority. The beauty of the pet scans is that horses can go from their stable to the field of education. Is best.
“We were soon able to diagnose and diagnose better, which leads to less downtime and less catastrophic injuries.”
The equipment required for the implementation of advanced imaging is pricey and arrives in seven figures, as they have to take place especially for the size of the horses. However, the treatment price is anything but unaffordable. In Santa Anita, imaging is carried out by the non-profit Südkalifornia-Equine Foundation, which keeps the costs lower than outside the clinics. Benson said that a PET scan costs less than 1,000 US dollars there.
“We are working strenuous to keep the costs low because we believe that these modalities are so vital,” she said. “We started a program in the north in which we contribute to advanced imaging in certain situations in the payment of the advanced imaging.”
Garrett noticed that a PET scan in Kentucky costs about 1,500 US dollars. Brown added that a number of options – including private funds or the participation of Horseman groups or racing associations – are examined as opportunities to provide these treatments to support horses in jurisdiction.
Brown is of the opinion that the technology is used more often, but to even more positive results for horses.
“I think this technology is enormous for the safety of horses,” said Brown. “The more we utilize the results of this imaging to our knowledge base, the better we position ourselves to develop AI around the individual horse. It is very thrilling what these options have for us.”
Garrett added: “I think this is a really vital piece of how we further improve the security in the racing games. It is not something that can be used alone, and it is not best to utilize PET scans of widescale -screening base. But it has the potential to assist us to identify a group of horses that may not have any more injuries if we cannot intervene, and Do more out of training.
Benson said: “I have no doubt that the advanced imaging increases the safety of the horses. It would be great if there was a single ball that could be put over a horse and covering everything, but that doesn't exist for horses or people.
