HOW TO TAKE AND INTERPRET RADIOGRAPHS OF THE YOUNG PERFORMANCE HORSE
Fig. 13. Poor positioning. This oblique is too DP and therefore does not allow proper visualization of the condyles or dorsal P1.
Fig. 15. Poor exposure. This underexposed image results in a lack of anatomic detail and also highlights the water present on the horse. Water artifact has the same effect as dirt and could easily be misinterpreted as a lesion; therefore, limbs should be dried before imaging.
and water on the horse cause artifacts on the radio- graphs and can make it difficult to differentiate true lesions from artifact (Figs. 10 and 11). Poor exposure can be the result of underexposure (light image) or overexposure (dark image). Digital images can com- pensate for some exposure problems by altering the brightness and contrast (windowing) (also see Figs. 12–15). However, gross inaccuracies in exposure can- not be corrected, especially overexposure.1–3
2. Butler JA, Colles CM, Dyson SJ, et al. Clinical Radiology of the Horse. Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Science; 2000:27–131.
3. McIlwraith CW, Nixon AJ, Wright IM, et al. Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse. St Louis: Elsevier Lim- ited; 2005:129–197.
Fig. 14. Dirt results in an artifact that can resemble pathology if present over an area of concern. It is very important to clean the area of interest before taking radiographs.
