Computed tomographic myelography of the cranial cervical spine in Warmblood horses with no spinal pathology-Inter- and intravertebral ratios and distribution of contrast columns in neutral and flexed cervical spine.
Abstract: Computed tomographic myelography (CTM) and radiographic myelography (RxM) are diagnostic for extradural spinal cord compression, but knowledge about the contrast distribution in flexion and normal position of nonaffected horses is lacking. Objective: (1) To determine the inter- and intravertebral ratios at C3-C4 of CTM in neutral and flexed positions in Warmbloods. (2) To compare the diameters of the spinal cord and the contrast columns at C3-C4 between neutral and flexed positions in CTM and RxM. (3) To evaluate the variability of measurements. Methods: Terminal in vivo method-comparison study with histological confirmation of absence of spinal pathology. Methods: RxM and CTM were performed in 13 neurologically normal Warmbloods in neutral and flexed cervical spine positions. Inter- and intravertebral ratios, the sagittal diameters of the spinal cord, the dorsal (dcc) and ventral contrast column (vcc) were calculated (in mm) and compared between the cervical spine positions. Results: The flexion angle was 24° in both modalities. Flexion of the cervical spine led to a significant reduction of the diameter of the spinal cord in CTM (sc_inter2: 9.2 ± 1.1 (mean ± standard deviation) and 8.0 ± 1.4, p = 0.02; sc inter 3: 9.2 ± 1.3 and 7.7 ± 1.7, p = 0.007) and of the heights of the contrast columns in both modalities (dcc inter2: RxM: 10.2 ± 1.9 and 8.5 ± 2.1, p = 0.005; CTM: 8.8 ± 1.4 and 7.2 ± 2.0, p = 0.004; vcc inter3: RxM: 2.7 ± 1.3 and 0.9 ± 0.7, p < 0.001; CTM: 2.2 ± 1.2 and 0.0 ± 0.1, p < 0.001) at intervertebral locations. Conclusions: Small group size, no calibration of radiographs. Conclusions: Flexion of the cervical spine decreased the diameter of the spinal cord and the dorsal and ventral myelographic contrast columns in Warmbloods with no spinal pathology. Unassigned: A mielografia por tomografia computadorizada (TCM) e a mielografia radiográfica (RxM) são utilizadas para o diagnóstico de compressão extramedular da medula espinhal. Contudo, ainda há escassez de informações sobre a distribuição do contraste nas posições em flexão e neutra da coluna cervical em cavalos sem alterações patológicas. Objective: (1) Determinar os índices intervertebrais e intravertebrais em C3–C4 obtidos por TCM nas posições neutra e fletida em cavalos Warmblood. (2) Comparar os diâmetros da medula espinhal e das colunas de contraste em C3–C4 entre as posições neutra e fletida na TCM e na RxM. (3) Avaliar a variabilidade das medidas. Unassigned: Estudo terminal in vivo de comparação de métodos, com confirmação histológica da ausência de lesão patologia espinhal. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas RxM e TCM em 13 cavalos Warmblood neurologicamente normais nas posições neutra e fletida da coluna cervical. Os índices intervertebrais e intravertebrais, os diâmetros sagitais da medula espinhal, a coluna de contraste dorsal (ccd) e a coluna de contraste ventral (ccv) foram calculados em milímetros e comparados entre as posições cervicais. Results: O ângulo de flexão foi de 24° em ambas as modalidades. A flexão da coluna cervical resultou em uma redução significativa do diâmetro da medula espinhal na TCM (em C3–C4: 9,2 ± 1,1 (média ± desvio padrão) e 8,0 ± 1,4, p = 0,02; em C4–C5: 9,2 ± 1,3 e 7,7 ± 1,7, p = 0,007) e das alturas das colunas de contraste em ambas as modalidades (ccd_C3–C4: RxM: 10,2 ± 1,9 e 8,5 ± 2,1, p = 0,005; TCM: 8,8 ± 1,4 e 7,2 ± 2,0, p = 0,004; ccv_C4–C5: RxM: 2,7 ± 1,3 e 0,9 ± 0,7, p < 0,001; TCM: 2,2 ± 1,2 e 0,0 ± 0,1, p < 0,001) nos espaços intervertebrais. PRINCIPAIS LIMITAÇÕES: Pequeno tamanho amostral, ausência de calibração das radiografias. CONCLUSÕES: A flexão da coluna cervical diminuiu o diâmetro da medula espinhal e das colunas de contraste dorsal e ventral na mielografia de cavalos Warmblood sem alterações patológicas. PALAVRAS‐CHAVE: mielopatia estenótica cervical, ataxia, cavalo, tomografia computadorizada, coluna cervical, índices intervertebrais e intravertebrais.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2025-06-24 PubMed ID: 40551666DOI: 10.1111/evj.14552Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This study investigates how flexing the cervical spine can affect spinal cord diameters in Warmblood horses without spinal pathology. It uses computed tomographic myelography and radiographic myelography to measure changes in the spinal cord and contrast columns at specific vertebral positions when the spine is in neutral and flexed positions.
Introduction
- The scientific paper primarily focuses on the use of computed tomographic myelography (CTM) and radiographic myelography (RxM) as diagnostic tools for extradural spinal cord compression.
- The research aims to enhance the knowledge regarding contrast distribution in the case of flexion and the normal position in horses who do not have any spinal pathology.
Objectives
- The primary objectives of this research were to ascertain the inter- and intravertebral ratios at C3-C4 of CTM in neutral and flexed positions in Warmblood horses.
- The researchers wanted to compare the diameters of the spinal cord and the contrast columns at C3-C4 in CTM and RxM between C3-C4 both in a neutral and flexed position.
- In addition, the study also aimed to assess the variability in these measurements.
Methodology
- A terminal in vivo method-comparison study was conducted with histological confirmation of the absence of spinal pathology.
- The RxM and CTM experiments were carried out on 13 neurologically normal Warmblood horses in both the neutral and flexed positions of the cervical spine.
- The measurements of inter- and intravertebral ratios, and the sagittal diameters of the spinal cord along with the dorsal and ventral contrast column were calculated in millimeters for both the cervical spine positions.
Results
- A flexion angle of 24º was documented in both the methods.
- When the cervical spine was flexed, it resulted in a significant decrease in the diameter of the spinal cord in CTM and the heights of the contrast columns in both RxM and CTM at intervertebral spaces.
Conclusion
- Despite a small group size and no calibration, the study concluded that flexion of the cervical spine resulted in the lowering of the diameter of the spinal cord as well as the dorsal and ventral myelographic contrast columns in Warmblood horses without any spinal pathology.
Cite This Article
APA
Hellige M, Schröder C, Seehusen F, Cavalleri JM, Rohn K, Stadler P, Geburek F.
(2025).
Computed tomographic myelography of the cranial cervical spine in Warmblood horses with no spinal pathology-Inter- and intravertebral ratios and distribution of contrast columns in neutral and flexed cervical spine.
Equine Vet J.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14552 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
- Institute for Biometry, Epidemiology and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany.
Grant Funding
- Clinic for Horses of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover
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