At the Rainbow Equine Hospital we are one of the few equine hospitals in the UK to have nuclear scintigraphic (bone scanning) capability. We have over 15 years of expertise in the area and so you can be confident that your horse will receive the best of scans interpreted by people who are specialized in interpreting the images.

WHAT IS IT?

Nuclear scintigraphy or , bone scanning, as it is commonly known is an advanced diagnostic imaging modality that pinpoints areas of bone and in some cases soft tissue pathology due to injury.  Most commonly it is used in difficult lameness investigations to pinpoint specific regions of the limbs that are resulting in lameness.

HOW IS IT DONE?

The procedure is performed standing with the horse sedated to keep him/her as still as possible.  A radioactive drug is injected into the jugular vein through a pre-placed venous catheter. The radioactive drug is combined with a special marker that binds to bone. The bone marker and radioactive isotope combination then distributes through the body via the blood stream and eventually reaches the bone. The drug then binds to the bone. Bone that is damaged has an increased blood supply and thus more of the drug will be taken up in such areas.  A gamma camera is then used to detect the radioactivity sequentially at specific locations on the body and limbs and then software converts the data to a picture on a computer.  The resultant images show areas of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake or ‘hot spots’ on the body that highlight where the injury is located.

From injection of the radioactive isotope to completion of the scan the procedure takes approximately 4 hours.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Your horse’s images are reviewed that day by a certified specialist who will consult with both you and your own veterinarian within 24 hours of the scan to come up with a plan of action.

By UK law your horse is considered radioactive for 48 hours following the scan and must be kept isolated in specially designated stables until clear from radioactivity. The doses of radiation are very small, however, all bedding and feed material as well as your horse are considered radioactive for that 48 hour period.

Following clearance from nuclear scintigraphy quarantine further investigation of the regions that have shown up on the scan will be conducted which may involve lameness investigation, radiographic and ultrasonographic imaging.  This will all be done following consultation with you and your veterinarian.

INDICATIONS

Lameness investigations, dental disease, head-shaking, back and neck related problems

HOW DO I GET AN APPOINTMENT

Call direct or ask your veterinarian for a referral.