Dates Title Contact Hours
Sat 25 - Sun 26 Equine Ultrasound-Guided Orthopedic Injection Techniques & Therapies 15hrs
Mon 27 Ultrasound of the Equine Upper Limb, Neck, Back & Pelvis 8hrs

Sat 25 - Sun 26 February: Ultrasound-Guided Orthopedic Injection Techniques & Therapies
Ultrasonography has become a crucially important diagnostic imaging modality in Equine Orthopedics and most Equine Practitioners nowadays have access to the necessary equipment. A growing number of equine orthopedic specialists have furthermore extended the use of ultrasonography creatively to assist with injection techniques and to facilitate minimally invasive surgery. This 2-day practical course has been developed to provide equine and mixed animal practitioners who have experience with ultrasonography, with the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills of performing ultrasound-guided orthopedic injections and ultrasound-assisted surgical techniques, covering all regions of the musculoskeletal apparatus of the horse. Whole horses will be used to recreate a scenario as it might be encountered in live horses. A review of conventional and biologic treatment modalities for orthopedic conditions will round the course up.

In the mornings the following topics will be covered in highly illustrated lectures and case presentations:

How to get the most out of your ultrasound machine
Principles of Ultrasound-Guidance
Ultrasound-Guided Tendon & Ligament Injections
Ultrasound-Guided Joint Injections of the Limbs (incl. hip & shoulder joints)
Ultrasound-Guided Bursal Injections
Cervical Facet Joint Injections
Ultrasound-Guided Back Injections
Lumbosacral & Sacroiliac Injection Techniques
Ultrasound-Guided Surgery
Conventional Systemic & Intra-Articular Joint Therapies
What’s the latest on Regenerative Therapies?
Open and frank discussions are encouraged during the course and the speakers will share their personal experiences with attendees, be it successes or failures.

Between both afternoons, 7 hours of practical sessions will give attendees plenty of opportunity to train the different injection techniques on equine specimens and VetPD Joint Injection Simulators and to get tips and tricks in small groups (2 – 4 attendees per ultrasound machine), under the supervision of the specialists. Each attendee will rotate through the following practical stations:

Tendon & Ligament Injections
US-guided Upper Limb Joint Injections
US-guided Back Injections – Interspinous & Articular Facet Joint Injections
Cervical Facet Joint Injections
Lumbosacral & Sacroiliac Injection Techniques
US-guided Surgical Techniques
On the evening of the first day all attendees are invited to attend the wine & cheese reception. The course fee includes lunches, coffee/tea breaks, extensive electronic course notes and a certificate of attendance.

Mon 27 February: Ultrasound of the Equine Upper Limb, Neck, Back & Pelvis
This course was developed to provide attendees with the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills of ultrasound image acquisition and interpretation of the upper front- and hindlimbs, the poll, neck, withers, back and pelvis. It is suitable for vets from equine practice who are keen to further develop their equine ultrasound expertise. This course covers the following topics systematically and via highly illustrated lectures:

Ultrasonographic Anatomy & Conditions of Shoulder Joint & Bicipital Bursa
Stifle Joint Region
Hip Joint & Pelvis
The Poll & Cervical Spine
The Back
The panel of internationally renowned speakers/instructors has a wealth of experience and will share common diagnostic pitfalls, erroneous image interpretations, practical tips and pearls of wisdom open and honestly with the attendees.

After lunch, 4 hours of practical sessions in small groups (2 – 4 vets per ultrasound machine) will provide the attendees with the opportunity to ask questions and to put their existing and newly acquired knowledge into practice, on live horses at the following stations:

The Stifle Joint
The Hip & Pelvis (percutaneous ultrasound)
Shoulder Joint, Bicipital Bursa & Neck
The Back & Sacroiliac Region
The course fee includes lunches, coffee/tea breaks, extensive electronic course notes and a certificate of attendance.