Cervical stenotic myelopathy in a horse.

This study focuses on a horse that was diagnosed with cervical stenotic myelopathy, a condition where the spinal canal in the neck is narrowed, compressing the spinal cord. The condition led to a steady loss of coordination in the animal’s four limbs.

Introduction and Case Presentation

• The study examined a 13-year-old Thoroughbred gelding horse that had been showing signs of progressive ataxia (a decline in motor coordination) in all four limbs for about three years.
• The horse was examined both physically and neurologically. These examinations suggested that there was a lesion compressing the spinal cord in the neck area.

Radiographic and Myelogram Analysis

• The preliminary suspicions about the problem were confirmed using radiographic imaging. Through this imaging, a lesion was indeed confirmed.
• A myelogram was also performed for a more detailed assessment. A myelogram is a specific imaging study that involves the injection of a contrast dye in the spinal canal. This allows for a clear visualization of the spinal cord and the surrounding areas.
• The myelogram revealed that there was a significant narrowing of the spinal canal in the area of cervical vertebrae 6 and 7, specifically, which was causing the problem.

Necropsy Confirmations

• To rule out any other possible causes and confirm the diagnosis, a necropsy was performed after the horse’s death.
• The necropsy confirmed that the horse was suffering from cervical stenotic myelopathy. This ailment is a condition where the spinal canal in the neck area becomes too narrow, causing compression to the spinal cord and subsequent neurological issues.