NEW FACILITIES AT TUFTS
Developments in bone scan
land. Many of our readers will be familiar with
the diagnostic modality referred to as nuclear scintigraphy, nuclear scanning
or bone and soft tissue scanning. This
unique modality allows us to locate and identify subtle injuries of the
musculoskeletal system which cannot be picked up using traditional x-ray or
ultrasound technologies. Examples
include stress fractures of the thoroughbred racehorse’s shin and tibia. To complete a bone scan we inject a small
(and safe) amount of radioisotope into the horse’s blood stream where it is
selectively distributed to regions of inflammation. The horse is then placed in front of a camera which senses gamma
ray emissions from the body. Those
areas which harbor proportionally greater amounts of radioisotope show up on
the image created as dark foci of inflammation. We’re very pleased to tell you that we now have in operation a totally new and state of the art nuclear
bone scan camera and software. This
equipment, costing over $250,000 to purchase, provides us with the very best
imaging capabilities for your horse and we invite you to call by to take a look
at this wonderful facility located in our Hospital Large Animals. Bear in mind that while most of our scans
are of the musculoskeletal system, other radioisotopes allow us to image other
organ systems for example the kidney or white blood cells of the body. Please feel free to call us for more
information.
High energy shock wave therapy comes to Tufts. You may have read over the course of the
last 12-18 months about the use of high energy shock wave therapy (HESWT) for
the treatment of a variety of injuries to horses’ bone tendon, ligament and joints. This treatment modality, which involves the
creation of a high energy shock wave which passes across the skin and to the
focus of injury, has seen increasing use in the management of a variety of
human diseases with encouraging outcome.
Plantar fasciitis, heal spurs, and tennis elbow are examples of human
diseases which respond well to HESWT.
Principle applications in the horse include tendonitis, suspensory
desmitis, bone spavin, stress fractures, and navicular disease, to mention a
few. While the precise means by which
the high energy shock wave provides benefit is not fully characterized, we do
know that it serves to improve blood supply, activate healing cells, dissipate
swelling, and provide immediate pain relief.
The hospital for large animals
now has a top of the line shock wave generator which is available to our
clients for use in the selected injuries.
To learn more, contact any one of our large animal surgeons.
If
you would like to book an appointment at the Hospital for Large Animals or have
any questions regarding the health of your horses, please feel free to call us
at (508) 839-7926. Alternatively, feel
free to email Dr. Kirker-Head at carl.kirker-head@tufts.edu. Lastly, don’t forget that, as a Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeder’s
Association member you are entitled to a 15% discount on your bill. Enjoy this benefit and call us now.