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Equine veterinary journal2019; 52(2); 219-224; doi: 10.1111/evj.13140

Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses.

Abstract: Variation in equine caudal cervical spine morphology at C6 and C7 has high prevalence in Warmblood horses and is suspected to be associated with pain in a large mixed-breed group of horses. At present no data exist on the relationship between radiographic phenotype and clinical presentation in Warmblood horses in a case-control study. Objective: To establish the frequency of radiographically visible morphologic variation in a large group of Warmblood horses with clinical signs and compare this with a group without clinical signs. We hypothesised that occurrence of morphologic variation in the case group would not differ from the control group, indicating there is no association between clinical signs and morphologic variation. Methods: Retrospective case-control. Methods: Radiographic presence or absence of morphologic variation of cervical vertebrae C6 and C7 was recorded in case (n = 245) and control horses (n = 132). Case and control groups were compared by univariable Pearson's Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression for measurement variables age, sex, breed, degenerative joint disease and morphologic variation at C6 and C7. Odds ratio and confidence intervals were obtained. A P≤0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Morphologic variation at C6 and C7 (n = 108/377 = 28.6%; Cases 58/245 = 23.7%; Control 50/132 = 38%) was less frequent in horses with clinical signs in univariable testing (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P = 0.001). Age, sex, breed and degenerative joint disease were not retained in the final multivariable logistic regression step whereas morphologic variation remained significantly less present in horses with clinical signs. Conclusions: Possible demographic differences between equine clinics. Conclusions: Morphologic variation in the caudal cervical spine was detected more frequently in horses without clinical signs. Therefore, radiographic presence of such variation does not necessarily implicate the presence of clinical signs.
© 2019 The Authors Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-16 PubMed ID: 31211852PubMed Central: PMC7027909DOI: 10.1111/evj.13140Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The researchers investigated the relationship between radiographically visible morphological variations in the caudal cervical spine of Warmblood horses and clinical signs of discomfort or disease. They found that such variations were more frequently visible in horses without clinical signs, suggesting these variations are not indicative of health problems.

Objective and Hypothesis of the Study

  • The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of radiographically visible morphological variations in a large group of Warmblood horses presenting with clinical signs and compare this with a group without clinical signs.
  • The researchers hypothesized that there would be no difference in the occurrence of morphological variations between horses with clinical signs and those without, suggesting no association between clinical signs and morphological variation.

Methods

  • The study was a retrospective case-control investigation.
  • Radiographic records of presence or absence of morphologic variations of cervical vertebrae C6 and C7 were examined for case horses (n = 245) and control horses (n = 132).
  • The case and control groups were compared through univariable Pearson’s Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression for measurement variables such as age, sex, breed, degenerative joint disease, and morphologic variation at C6 and C7.
  • Odds ratios and confidence intervals were calculated. A P-value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

  • Morphological variation at C6 and C7 was less frequent in horses with clinical signs in univariable testing (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, P = 0.001).
  • Variables such as age, sex, breed, and degenerative joint disease were not retained in the final multivariable logistic regression step, but morphologic variation remained significantly less present in horses with clinical signs.

Conclusions

  • The study found that morphologic variation in the caudal cervical spine was detected more frequently in horses without clinical signs.
  • Therefore, the radiographic presence of such variations does not necessarily indicate the presence of clinical signs of discomfort or disease.
  • This could have implications for equine clinical practices, as these variations should not necessarily be treated as indicators of health problems in Warmblood horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Veraa S, de Graaf K, Wijnberg ID, Back W, Vernooij H, Nielen M, Belt AJM. (2019). Caudal cervical vertebral morphological variation is not associated with clinical signs in Warmblood horses. Equine Vet J, 52(2), 219-224. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13140

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 2
Pages: 219-224

Researcher Affiliations

Veraa, S
  • Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
de Graaf, K
  • Equine Clinic, Veterinary Centre Someren, Someren, the Netherlands.
Wijnberg, I D
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Back, W
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vernooij, H
  • Department of Farm Animal Health, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Nielen, M
  • Department of Farm Animal Health, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Belt, A J M
  • Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cervical Vertebrae
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Neck
  • Retrospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
  1. DeClue A, Workman K, May-Davis S. Identifying by Radiograph Grade 4 Aplasia of the Caudal Lamina Ventralis in the Equine Sixth Cervical Vertebra and Three Coinciding Morphological Variations. Animals (Basel) 2026 Feb 4;16(3).
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  2. Strootmann T, Peter VG, Körner J. Radiographic Prevalence of Anatomical Variations of the Ventral Lamina of the Sixth Cervical Vertebra, C6/C7 Articular Process Joint Modelling and Competition Outcomes in Warmblood Sport Horses. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 29;16(3).
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  3. Dyson S, Phillips K, Zheng S, Aleman M. Congenital variants of the ventral laminae of the sixth and seventh cervical vertebrae are not associated with clinical signs or other radiological abnormalities of the cervicothoracic region in Warmblood horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):419-430.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14127pubmed: 38938125google scholar: lookup
  4. May-Davis S, Eckelbarger PB, Dzingle D, Saber E. Characterization and Association of the Missing Ventral Tubercle(s) from the Sixth Cervical Vertebra and Transpositions on the Ventral Surface of the Seventh Cervical Vertebra in Modern Equus ferus caballus. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 20;14(12).
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  7. Zimmermann E, Ros KB, Pfarrer C, Distl O. Historic Horse Family Displaying Malformations of the Cervicothoracic Junction and Their Connection to Modern German Warmblood Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 3;13(21).
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  8. May-Davis S, Dzingle D, Saber E, Blades Eckelbarger P. Characterization of the Caudal Ventral Tubercle in the Sixth Cervical Vertebra in Modern Equus ferus caballus. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jul 22;13(14).
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  9. May-Davis S, Hunter R, White R. Morphology of the Ventral Process of the Sixth Cervical Vertebra in Extinct and Extant Equus: Functional Implications. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 17;13(10).
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