Computed tomographic examination of the articular process joints of the cervical spine in warmblood horses: 86 cases (2015-2017).

The research article describes a study performed on 86 warmblood horses to understand the link between irregularities in the articular process joints (APJs) in the cervical spine and clinical signs associated with these anomalies. The findings from the Computed Tomographic (CT) examinations suggest that abnormal APJs can be associated with several adverse clinical symptoms.

Study Design

• In this study, CT scans of the cervical spine of 86 warmblood horses, taken between January 2015 and January 2017, were critically analysed.
• These horses were divided into three case groups and one control group according to the exhibited clinical signs.
• The horses’ medical records were extensively reviewed to consider various details such as age, body weight, breed, sex, history, clinical signs, and CT findings.

Findings and Observations

• The researchers observed that abnormalities were more common in the C5 through T1 region of the cervical spine and were severe only in the horses from the case group.
• Notably, narrowing of the intervertebral foramen was common in the case group due to enlarged, misshapen articular processes, followed by other changes such as degenerative changes, periarticular osteolysis, cyst-like lesions, and fragmentation.
• A significant correlation was identified between high APJ-to-vertebral body ratio (APBR) and severe narrowing of the intervertebral foramen and periarticular osteolysis in horses showing signs of forelimb lameness, cervical pain, or stiffness.

Interpretation and Conclusion

• The research pointed out that there was no apparent association between APBR and age or sex of the horses. However, an APBR higher than 1.5 was observed exclusively in horses in the case group.
• Interestingly, approximately a third of APJs with APBRs > 1.5 did not exhibit any degenerative changes and periarticular osteolysis, suggesting that APJs enlargement can occur without concurrent degenerative changes.
• Therefore, the CT was effective in identifying abnormalities of the APJs in the cervical spine of horses, and a connection existed between these CT findings and the clinical signs observed.