Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to evaluate tendon and ligament structures of the musculoskeletal system. It is the imaging modality of choice for identifying soft tissue injuries of the horse. It is particularly useful for imaging tendons of the lower limb which are frequent sites of injury in the horse. It can be used to identify foreign bodies lodged within soft tissue structures and to evaluate the margins of bone structures.
In order to obtain images of diagnostic quality your horse’s hair will need to be clipped, the skin cleaned and ultrasound gel applied to the area of interest. Your vet will be looking for enlargement of structures, evidence of fibre pattern disruption and fluid accumulation to determine potential sites of injury.
