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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Radiol Ultrasound / Cervical disc width index is a reliable parameter and consis...
Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2020; 62(1); 11-19; doi: 10.1111/vru.12913

Cervical disc width index is a reliable parameter and consistent in young growing Dutch Warmblood horses.

Abstract: Intervertebral disc disease, as well as the associated alteration of the radiographic intervertebral disc space width, has been reported in horses. Disc height index (DHI) has proven to be an accurate and objective parameter in other species but data related to this parameter are lacking in horses. Therefore, the aims of this retrospective longitudinal diagnostic accuracy study were (a) to evaluate the reliability of measurements within and between observers of the equine Disc Width Index (EDWI) as a parameter for radiographic equine cervical intervertebral disc space width, and (b) to evaluate the sequential development of the EDWI over time. For this, EDWI from all intervertebral disc spaces between second cervical (C) to first thoracic (Th) vertebrae were obtained in a group of 39 Dutch Warmblood horses at 1, 5, and 18 months of age, by one European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI) board-certified veterinary radiologist (S.V.) and two veterinary students. Bland-Altmann plots and intraclass Correlation Coefficient revealed a good intra- and interobserver agreement. A linear mixed-effect model did reveal that mean EDWI increases significantly toward the caudal cervical spine, but did not differ significantly for a certain location over time or between sexes. Spearman's rank test did show a significant correlation between the vertebral alignment angle induced by different head-neck positions and a normalized EDWI (ρ = 0.33, P < .0001). Student's t-test revealed that the presence of C6-C7 transposition of the transverse processes did not influence EDWI significantly. It was concluded that EDWI represents a reliable parameter for equine cervical radiographic intervertebral disc space width. Practical implementation of EDWI warrants monitoring in a group of adult horses while maintaining a standardized head-neck position.
© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-13 PubMed ID: 33090577PubMed Central: PMC7894175DOI: 10.1111/vru.12913Google 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 research examines the reliability of the Equine Disc Width Index (EDWI) as a method to measure the disc space width in the cervical spine of horses, and how this parameter develops over time in growing Dutch Warmblood horses.

Objective of the Study

  • The research aims to investigate the reliability of measurements of the equine Disc Width Index (EDWI) within and between observers. EDWI is a parameter for measuring equine cervical intervertebral disc space width. It also aims to analyse the sequential evolution of EDWI over time.

Methods and Material

  • The study is conducted retrospectively and longitudinally on 39 Dutch Warmblood horses at the ages of 1, 5, and 18 months. The measurements of EDWI from all the intervertebral disc spaces in the cervical spine of these horses were taken.
  • The research was undertaken by a board-certified veterinary radiologist from the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging and two veterinary students.

Analysis and Findings

  • The research made use of statistical tests like the Bland-Altmann plots, intraclass Correlation Coefficient, linear mixed-effect model, Spearman’s rank test, and Student’s t-test to deduce the findings.
  • Both intra- and interobserver agreement in the measurements was found to be good, suggesting the EDWI is a reliable measurement method.
  • The mean EDWI was found to significantly increase towards the caudal cervical spine but didn’t change significantly over time or between males and females.
  • A significant correlation was found between vertebral alignment angle (adjusted by different head-neck positions) and normalized EDWI.
  • C6-C7 transposition of the transverse processes didn’t significantly impact the EDWI.

Conclusion

  • The research concludes that EDWI is a reliable parameter for equine cervical radiographic intervertebral disc space width. As a practical implication, the research suggests monitoring EDWI in a group of adult horses in a consistent head-neck position over time.

Cite This Article

APA
Veraa S, Scheffer CJW, Smeets DHM, de Bruin RB, Hoogendoorn AC, Vernooij JCM, Nielen M, Back W. (2020). Cervical disc width index is a reliable parameter and consistent in young growing Dutch Warmblood horses. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 62(1), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12913

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 62
Issue: 1
Pages: 11-19

Researcher Affiliations

Veraa, Stefanie
  • Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Scheffer, Carmen J W
  • Equine Veterinary Clinic "De Watermolen", Haaksbergen, The Netherlands.
Smeets, Danielle H M
  • Division of Equine Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
de Bruin, Renske B
  • Division of Equine Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hoogendoorn, Arie C
  • Equine Veterinary Clinic "De Watermolen", Haaksbergen, The Netherlands.
Vernooij, Johannes C M
  • Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Nielen, Mirjam
  • Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Back, Willem
  • Division of Equine Sciences, Department of Clinical 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.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16030424pubmed: 41681407google scholar: lookup
  2. 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
  3. 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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  4. Rogers CW, Gee EK, Dittmer KE. Growth and Bone Development in the Horse: When Is a Horse Skeletally Mature?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Nov 29;11(12).
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