Ultrasonographic detection of fistulous tracts and foreign objects in muscles of horses.

The results from water-bath studies on equine muscle in which foreign material had been inserted and then scanned ultrasonographically were compared with the results from scanning of the muscles of horses hospitalized for diagnosis of suspected foreign objects embedded in muscle. The water-bath studies showed that bone, wood, and large tendons all will demonstrate acoustic shadowing, but that subtle differences in the characteristics of the relative hyperechogenicity and acoustic shadows facilitate elimination of certain considerations in the differential diagnosis. Ultrasonography was effective in locating fistulous tracts and bone sequestra. A protocol for diagnosis of suspected foreign objects imbedded in muscle was proposed.