[Radiologic findings in bovine laminitis].

In a clinical study, 366 radiographs--210 in an abaxioaxial plane, 156 in a dorsopalmar/-plantar view, of 179 bovines affected with laminitis were evaluated. Seven common findings were noted in laminitic claws: In the abaxioaxial plane these were rotation of the pedal bone (34.8%), radiolucency at the tip of phalanx III (31.9%), concave shape of the dorsum of the claw (18.6%), "ski jump" sign (16.2%), and radiolucency in the area of the dorsal laminae (10.0%). In the dorsopalmar/-plantar view a gross irregularity of the solar margin of the pedal bone (49.4%) or radiolucency of the pedal bone tip (34.0%) were evident. Bony proliferations in the region of the dorsal laminae (27.6%) and pedal osteitis at the solar surface of the pedal bone (18.6%) were not evaluated as being typical laminitic changes because they could not clearly be separated from the changes which depend on age. Changes in shape of the extensor process, shape of the dorsal surface of P3 were judged as physiologic variations. The distal displacement (sinking) of phalanx III could not be verified due to the lack of radiologic measurements in normal claws. A statistically proven correlation of laminitis with the septic pododermatitis circumscripta (deep Rusterholz' ulcer) could only be found for the radiolucency of the pedal bone tip.