The development of a systematic ultrasound protocol facilitates the visualization of foreign bodies within the canine distal limb

Ebony Schoenfeld, Martin Combs, Esther Callcott, Kieri Jermyn, Randi Rotne

Background: Foreign bodies in the soft tissues such as plant material are a diagnostic challenge. The authors aim to develop and apply a systematic ultrasound protocol for the detection and removal of vegetal foreign bodies (VFBs) in the canine distal limb, which are a common and challenging problem in veterinary practice.

Study: The authors use cadaver limbs to design a 13-step ultrasound protocol (SUEDVEG) that covers three regions of the distal limb where VFBs are likely to be found. They then test the protocol on eight clinical cases with suspected VFBs and compare the outcomes with the standard focused ultrasound examination.

Methods: The authors use two types of transducers (linear and high frequency small-footprint linear array) to obtain ultrasound images of the interdigital webbing, the palmar/plantar aspect, and the dorsal aspect of the distal limb. They describe the optimal settings and techniques for each step of the protocol and the ultrasound appearance of the normal anatomy and the VFBs. They also record the patient signalment, history, clinical signs, and resolution of the cases.

Results: This study found that the SUEDVEG protocol successfully identifies and enables the removal of VFBs in seven out of eight cases (87.5%), with a total of 13 VFBs retrieved from nine limbs. The protocol also detects multiple VFBs and complex migration patterns that may be missed by the focused examination. The authors observe that VFBs are typically first identified in step 9 (transverse view of the dorsal aspect of the distal metatarsals/metacarpals) and confirmed by step 11 (sagittal view of the same region). High frequency small-footprint linear array transducer provides better image quality and contact than the linear transducer in some regions.

Limitations: Limitations of this study include a small sample size and needs further validation with a larger cohort of cases. Additionally, the protocol may need to be adjusted for different ultrasound machines and settings. The authors suggest that future research should compare the SUEDVEG protocol with other methods of VFB identification and include a wider variety of dog breeds and VFB types.

Conclusions: The authors conclude that the SUEDVEG protocol is a promising tool for the diagnosis and retrieval of VFBs in the canine distal limb. They claim that the protocol is more accurate and comprehensive than the focused examination and can be applied in general veterinary practice. They recommend that veterinarians use the protocol as a guide to systematically assess the distal limb for VFBs and improve the outcomes of the patients.

Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.