Navigational ultrasound imaging: A novel imaging tool for aiding interventional therapies of equine musculoskeletal injuries

• Published in: Equine veterinary journal Vol. 48; no. 2; pp. 195 - 200
• Main Authors: Lustgarten, M, Redding, W R, Schnabel, L V, Prange, T, Seiler, G S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States British Equine Veterinary Association 01.03.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Forelimb; Hindlimb; Horse Diseases - diagnosis; Horse Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Horse Diseases - surgery; Horses; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - veterinary; Musculoskeletal Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Musculoskeletal Diseases - pathology; Musculoskeletal Diseases - surgery; Musculoskeletal Diseases - veterinary; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - veterinary; Ultrasonography; horse; fusion imaging; musculoskeletal; MRI; navigational ultrasound imaging
• ISSN: 0425-1644; 2042-3306
• DOI: 10.1111/evj.12410

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Navigational ultrasound imaging, also known as fusion imaging, is a novel technology that allows real‐time ultrasound imaging to be correlated with a previously acquired computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study. It has been used in man to aid interventional therapies and has been shown to be valuable for sampling and assessing lesions diagnosed with MRI or CT that are equivocal on ultrasonography. To date, there are no reports of the use of this modality in veterinary medicine. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether navigational ultrasound imaging can be used to assist commonly performed interventional therapies for the treatment of equine musculoskeletal injuries diagnosed with MRI and determine the appropriateness of regional anatomical landmarks as registration sites. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, descriptive clinical study. METHODS: Horses with musculoskeletal injuries of the distal limb diagnosed with MRI scheduled for ultrasound‐guided interventional therapies were evaluated (n = 17 horses with a total of 29 lesions). Anatomical landmarks used for image registration for the navigational procedure were documented. Accuracy of lesion location and success of the procedure were assessed subjectively and described using a grading scale. RESULTS: All procedures were accurately registered using regional anatomical landmarks and considered successful based on our criteria. Anatomical landmarks were described for each lesion type. The addition of navigational imaging was considered to greatly aid the procedures in 59% of cases and added information to the remainder of the procedures. The technique was considered to improve the precision of these interventional procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Navigational ultrasound imaging is a complementary imaging modality that can be used for the treatment of equine soft tissue musculoskeletal injuries diagnosed with MRI.