Comparing video examinations with physical clinical examinations using finishing pigs with umbilical outpouchings as a model

BACKGROUND: Veterinary telemedicine has only been adopted to some degree. One aspect that needs to be evaluated is clinical examinations using video. The objective of this study was to evaluate agreement between a traditional physical clinical examination and a clinical examination using recorded video using finishing pigs with umbilical outpouchings (umbilical hernias, cysts, and abscesses) as the study unit. A total of 102 finisher pigs with umbilical outpouchings were clinically examined and recorded on video. Four experienced pig veterinarians were allowed to examine each pig for approximately 10 min and were individually asked to fill out a predesigned clinical record. Approximately 1 month after the physical examinations, the veterinarians individually reexamined all 102 pigs in a blinded manner, utilizing the video recordings and filling in a predesigned clinical record. RESULTS: For all measurements using a ruler, a high Pearson correlation coefficient was observed between physical and video examinations (range 0.69–0.95). In comparison, the visual bodyweight estimation had a lower Pearson correlation coefficient (range 0.57–0.64). Substantial to almost perfect agreement was observed between the physical and video examinations for abnormal weight distribution on any leg, restricted gait movements, lameness, signs of pain, fitness for transportation, presence of wounds, and categorization of the number of wounds > 4 cm(2) on the umbilical outpouching (mean Kappa range 0.67–0.87). Fair agreement was observed for the presence of perineal soiling, ear wounds, pendulation of umbilical outpouching, umbilical outpouching touching the legs, skin not movable over the umbilical outpouching, and umbilical outpouching wound characteristics: type, presence of crusts, active bleeding, thick wound edges, connective tissue (mean Kappa range 0.21–0.40). Slight agreement was observed for umbilical outpouching characteristics: shape, macroscopic vascularization of the skin covering the outpouching, and the presence of scars, excoriations, and fistulas (mean Kappa range 0.10–0.20). Poor agreement was observed for the presence of granulation tissue (mean Kappa = − 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The agreement between a physical clinical examination and a clinical examination using recorded video of the same pig varies from poor to almost perfect, depending on the clinical sign and the executing veterinarian. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13028-023-00689-8.