This article is sponsored content brought to you by Radincon.
“As a practice we’ve always embraced up-to-date, quality equipment,” says Chris O’Sullivan of REC Equine Specialists. “Wecarefully evaluate new diagnostic equipment and are early adopters.”
REC has been operating for over 70 years – first as the solo practice of Dr Percy Sykes, then as P.E. Sykes and Partners, then as Randwick Equine Centre. It’s grown significantly over time, both in size and in the services and specialities it offers. It remains an equine practice, but has evolved away from a narrow focus on racing thoroughbreds. REC vets and staff now look after sport horses, performance horses, pleasure horses, ponies and even donkeys.
Chris O’Sullivan is a specialist equine surgeon who joined REC in the 1990s, before digital X-ray was used in Australia. He was delighted when REC got their first DR radiography units from Radincon in 2006.
“Before, we were using a combination of film and computed radiography. Now, we’re a practice that only has digital radiography using flat panel sensors. This system is far more efficient and mobile, and allows us to store and transfer images quickly via the internet.”
He also notes a couple of special challenges when working with horses and other large animals.
Horses break things
Horses evolved as prey animals and often exhibit fairly dramatic flight or fright responses. Many weigh over 500kg, so this can put people working with them, and the equipment used, at risk.
“While we do our best to provide a calm environment and typically use sedation to facilitate our imaging, there are occasions when high end equipment is damaged,” says Chris. “Radincon have been supplying and repairing our digital radiography equipment along with many of our other imaging needs including ultrasound for years. They have provided a good and consistent service over this time.”
REC now have at least 6 DR systems supplied by Radincon, so there’s always equipment available to investigate, diagnose and form treatment plans.
Horses are bigger than humans
Most diagnostic imaging systems are designed for humans, then modified by vets for use on horses.
In 2021, REC acquired a Qalibra system direct from Germany. This uses a Canon Aquilion Large Bore (90cm) human CT system, set up in a way which works for vets. The large gantry aperture makes it easier to examine more regions of the horse including the spine, stifle, pelvis and shoulder regions.
The CT system is mounted on a stable platform within a pit. So it can be moved to various different levels and positions, enabling REC vets to image horses’ heads and the majority of both forelimbs and hindlimbs under standing sedation. Studies of the spine, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, stifle, elbows and shoulders require a short general anaesthetic.
“CT has revolutionised our advanced imaging practice, just as introducing our scintigraphy ‘bone scan’ unit in the 1990s did,” says Chris. “Recent advances in CT software mean it is now great for evaluating soft tissue injuries, previously reserved for ultrasound and MRI. The speed of study acquisitions makes it capable of imaging the limbs of horses more efficiently than standing MRI units. The quality of the Canon Aquilion unit along with the accompanying software allows for amazing detail in 3D imaging for both soft tissue and bone.”
Radincon now offer similar CT equipment in Australia, with local technicians on hand to install, train and maintain as necessary. The Canon Aquilion Lightning systems feature the industry’s thinnest slices for high resolution, plus the widest CT gantry, with a 78cm wide bore and a 47cm wide couch to optimise clinical workflow.
For more information, go online to radincon.com.au.
