Construction at the rear of the present buildings of the Endell Equine Hospital has now finally been completed.. This building comprises a nuclear scintigraphy suite, two examination rooms, further stabling, isolation boxes with self contained preparation room and accommodation for veterinary staff.

The 20m x 10m manege with a rubber/fibresand surface is also now in use.

The scintigraphy suite is purpose built containing the gamma camera and computer systems. There are two dedicated ‘en suite’ stables for patients undergoing the procedure, the floors are rubber floored as are the stables and examination rooms throughout the complex.

NUCLEAR SCINTIGRAPHY

Nuclear scintigraphy or more commonly known as bone scanning is the use of radioactive substances in medical diagnosis , which in horses is usually for orthopaedic problems but can be of great value in dental disease and also other non orthopaedic use.

This imaging system has been of wide usage in veterinary circles for approximately 20 years, and over the years we have always had close involvement with the diagnosis of the various conditions, using this modality , but up to now have had to send our cases elsewhere for the scanning to be carried out.

This imaging technique cannot replace the normal lameness workups , but can be of great value when the lameness cannot be isolated with the usual distal limb blocks, or radiography is equivocal. Problems high in the quarters e.g. pelvic fractures can readily be diagnosed. Fractious or nervous horses with hind limb lameness, that are not amenable to leg injections of local anaesthetic are also ideal candidates.

Unequivocal radiographic findings such as navicular disease, deep digital flexor tendonitis, stress fractures, bone cysts, kissing spines high suspensory desmitis, sacro iliac disease and tooth infections all can be confirmed or otherwise using nuclear scintigraphy.

The main and important difference between nuclear scintigraphy and other imaging techniques is that this isolates physiological abnormalities and not just anatomical differences from normality.

In other words if there is an active source of inflammation causing, say, a lameness or tooth pain, without radiographic evidence, the bone scan should isolate the source of that problem.

Horses admitted for this procedure, will require to remain at the hospital in isolation for at least 2 nights.