{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T15:20:47Z","timestamp":1762183247863,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,2]],"date-time":"2025-11-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762041600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>(1) Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is increasingly used in equine practice to diagnose musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures in the distal limb. However, limited detail in the thick cortical bone of the metacarpus\/metatarsus hinders accurate diagnosis. In human medicine, the addition of aluminum filters (AF) enhanced image quality while reducing radiation exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of AF on image quality in CBCT scans of equine distal limbs. (2) Methods: Adult equine cadaver limbs were scanned with a mobile CBCT unit using varying tube currents (10\u2013100 mA) and AF (13\u201325 mm). Two independent experts assessed the image quality using a four-point visual grading scale, focusing on cortical bone detail and artifacts. (3) Results: Higher tube currents generally improved image quality, but no filter was beneficial for the metacarpal\/metatarsal regions. For the proximal phalanx, thicker AF (19\u201325 mm) improved image quality without significantly increasing the required tube current. (4) Conclusions: The optimal balance between image quality and radiation exposure using the O-arm\u00ae CBCT system for equine distal limbs was a tube current of 50 or 64 mA without filtration for the metacarpus\/metatarsus, while a tube current of 50 mA with a 19\u201325 mm AF provided the best image quality for the proximal phalanx.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci12111051","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T13:15:14Z","timestamp":1762175714000},"page":"1051","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effect of Additional Aluminum Filtration on the Image Quality in Cone Beam Computed Tomographic Studies of Equine Distal Limbs Using Visual Grading Characteristics Analysis: A Pilot Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Luca","family":"Papini","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4357-6096","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mathieu","family":"de Preux","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Frederik","family":"Pauwels","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Plexus Veterinary Imaging, 39A Lloyd George Road Wainui, Gisborne 4010, New Zealand"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joris","family":"Missotten","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Virology and Immunology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"},{"name":"Institute of Virology and Immunology, 3147 Mittelh\u00e4usern, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1818-4285","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Elke","family":"Van der Vekens","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Clinical Radiology, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,2]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1075","DOI":"10.1111\/vsu.13486","article-title":"Clinical use of computer-assisted orthopedic surgery in horses","volume":"49","author":"Brunisholz","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vet. 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