Ultrasonography accurately detects equine cervical articular process joint effusion with comparable performance to computed tomography.

Ultrasonography reliably detects equine CAPJ effusion, suitable as first-line diagnostic approach.

This comparative study evaluated ultrasonography (US) versus computed tomography (CT) for detecting effusion in equine cervical articular process joints (CAPJs). Cadaveric cervical specimens from six horses were examined, with 50 CAPJs randomly assigned to receive 0, 2, or 4 mL of positive contrast solution. Both imaging modalities were performed before and after injection, with effusion graded on a 0-4 scale. Results demonstrated that US and CT showed comparable pre-injection scores and both detected significant post-injection increases at C2-C3, C3-C4, and C5-C6 sites. However, CT demonstrated superior sensitivity at C6-C7 and better identification of volume-dependent changes. Extravasation occurred in 78% of injected joints. The findings indicate that ultrasonography is a reliable, accessible first-line diagnostic tool for detecting CAPJ effusion in clinical practice, though computed tomography remains advantageous for caudal cervical evaluation when advanced imaging is available.

This summary was distilled by AI and may occasionally misinterpret data. Confirm critical details with the primary literature before clinical application.