Case Study: Clinica Veterinaria Vezzoni, Italy, with Agfa CR 15-X

Dr. Aldo Vezzoni, a renowned veterinary orthopedic specialist in Cremona, Italy, performs all X-ray imaging at his clinic with Agfa CR systems. The clinic, which had used a CR 30-X since 2007, added the high-volume CR 15-X digitizer in 2019 to handle its heavy workload.

Highlights

• A workload of 100 to 200 X-ray images a day and around 300 orthopedic cases a month
• The CR 15-X offers the same image quality and ease of use as the CR 30-X at higher capacity
• Images are used to diagnose cruciate ligament ruptures, calculate the tibial slope, plan TPLO procedures and size implants
• MUSICA processing produces consistent images, independent of dose, technique and patient size
• Agfa eliminated the Uberschwinger artefact (a black halo around metal prostheses) for the clinic
• The planning and measurement tools of the MUSICA workstation are cited as a key advantage

Description

The Vezzoni clinic has been operating since 1976 and now has 15 veterinarians and 10 staff members. By 2020, Dr. Vezzoni had performed close to 3,000 total hip replacements in dogs and contributed to the development of the Zurich Cementless THR prosthesis. In 2011 he also led the first hip replacement on a tiger at the University of Leipzig.

For new orthopedic patients, 10 to 20 images are taken of all the joints of the front and hind limbs, and for dogs over 5 years old the thorax and spine are imaged as well. The clinic's other veterinarians use the CR 15-X for thoracic evaluation in cardiopulmonary disease, abdominal imaging alongside ultrasound, and spinal imaging prior to CT or MRI.

CR 15-X solution features

• Designed for high-volume imaging environments
• Compact and simple, suitable for a wide range of applications
• User-controllable speed and resolution
• MUSICA image processing
• Easy installation and maintenance, suited to small spaces and mobile use
• Networking capability for full integration
• Optional cesium needle-based detectors with up to 60% dose reduction