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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2021; 62(3); 289-298; doi: 10.1111/vru.12947

Computed tomography identified mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament of the horse is associated with age and sex but not with the clinical sign of head shaking.

Abstract: Mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament has recently been identified in three horses undergoing computed tomographic (CT) examination, but published studies describing the clinical relevance of this finding are currently lacking. The objective of this retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship of this image finding to primary presenting complaint, age, breed, use and sex of the patient, and determine any association to the clinical signs of head shaking, neck pain or restricted range of neck motion. Computed tomographic images of 96 horses undergoing examination of the head and cranial cervical spine, for a variety of clinical reasons, were assessed for the presence of mineralisation within the longitudinal odontoid ligament. Clinical records were reviewed; presenting problem, signalment, clinical signs and final diagnoses were recorded and potential associations of presenting primary problem, signalment and individual clinical signs with mineralisation in the longitudinal odontoid ligament investigated, using univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis. Final multivariable analysis confirmed significant associations of increasing severity of mineralisation with increasing age (P = .002) and being female (P = .038). There was no association of mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament with the syndrome of idiopathic head shaking or other clinical signs investigated in this sample of horses. Authors therefore recommend that the clinical significance of mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament be interpreted cautiously for equine CT studies.
© 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: 2021-01-01 PubMed ID: 33385302DOI: 10.1111/vru.12947Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates the relationship between the mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament, identified through computed tomography, and essential factors like age, breed, use and sex in horses and whether this mineralisation is associated with clinical signs like head shaking, neck pain or restricted range of neck motion. The study finds a significant association of mineralisation with increasing age and the female sex, with no connection found with idiopathic head shaking or other clinical signs.

Objective of Research

  • This research aims to explore the relationship of the mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament in horses, as revealed through computed tomography, with primary presenting complaints, the age, breed and use of the horse, and its sex.
  • The study also seeks to determine if there’s any correlation between this image finding and the clinical signs of head shaking, neck pain, or restricted range of neck motion.

Methodology

  • Computed tomographic images of 96 horses, which were undergoing examination of the head and cranial cervical spine for various clinical reasons, were evaluated for the presence of mineralisation within the longitudinal odontoid ligament.
  • Researchers reviewed the clinical records, recorded the presenting problem, signalment, clinical signs and final diagnoses, and investigated potential associations of the primary problem, signalment and individual clinical signs with mineralisation in the longitudinal odontoid ligament, using both univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis.

Findings

  • Based on their final multivariable analysis, the researchers found significant associations of increasing severity of mineralisation with increasing age (P = .002) and being female (P = .038).
  • The study does not observe any association of the mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament with the syndrome of idiopathic head shaking or other introduced clinical signs in the sample of examined horses.

Recommendations

  • Given these results, the researchers recommend cautious interpretation of the clinical significance of the mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament in equine CT studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Talbot AM, Rodrigues M, Maddox TW. (2021). Computed tomography identified mineralisation of the longitudinal odontoid ligament of the horse is associated with age and sex but not with the clinical sign of head shaking. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 62(3), 289-298. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12947

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: 3
Pages: 289-298

Researcher Affiliations

Talbot, Alison M
  • Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.
Rodrigues, Miguel
  • Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.
Maddox, Thomas W
  • Small Animal Teaching Hospital, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cervical Vertebrae
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Ligaments / diagnostic imaging
  • Ligaments / pathology
  • Male
  • Odontoid Process
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / diagnostic imaging
  • Ossification, Heterotopic / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

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This article includes 23 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Lloyd-Edwards RA, Mulders E, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Veraa S. Computed Tomography of the Hyoid Apparatus in Equine Headshaking Syndrome. Vet Sci 2025 May 23;12(6).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12060511pubmed: 40559747google scholar: lookup
  2. Talbot AM, Shanks-Boon H, Baldwin CM, Barnes H, Maddox TW. Soft palate angle and basihyoid depth increase with tongue size and with body condition score in horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):967-976.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14445pubmed: 39748477google scholar: lookup
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