Nuclear Scintigraphy (bone scans)
Nuclear scintigraphy or bone scanning involves injecting a special radioactive “marker” that localises in areas of “damaged” bone or inflamed tissues. A special gamma camera is used to measure the amount of “marker” taken up by bone or tissue. Massey University is the only facility in New Zealand that is fully licensed and equipped to perform a wide array of nuclear scintigraphic imaging in horses. This technique is most commonly used to aid in the diagnosis of lameness problems in horses. It is especially helpful in localising the sources of lameness in horses with multiple limb problems, horses with potential stress fractures, and in assessing the causes of back pain.
