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Equine veterinary journal2024; doi: 10.1111/evj.14127

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.

Abstract: There is controversy about the clinical relevance of congenital variants of the ventral laminae of the sixth (C6) and seventh (C7) cervical vertebrae and their relationship with other radiological abnormalities. Objective: To document the prevalence of congenital variants of C6 and C7 and that of other radiological abnormalities from C6 to the second thoracic vertebra (T2). Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: The study included Warmblood horses ≥3 years of age undergoing clinical assessment at two referral institutions: 127 control horses and 96 cases (neurologic, neck pain or stiffness, or neck-related forelimb lameness). All horses underwent a standardised orthopaedic and neurologic examination. Lateral-lateral and lateral 45°-55° ventral-lateral dorsal (left to right and right to left) radiographic views of C5 to T2 were acquired and assessed blinded to the horse's clinical category using a predetermined grading system. Results: The ventral profile of C7 was abnormal in 54 horses (24.2%). Cases were less likely to have congenital variants than control horses, p = 0.0002, relative risk (RR): 0.63 (95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.4, 1.0). There was no association between the presence of a congenital variant of C7 and the presence of modelling of the articular processes (APs) of C6-C7, C7-T1 or T1-T2. Cases were more likely to have severe modelling of the APs at C6-C7, p = 0.01, RR: 1.94, CI: 1.1, 3.5 and C7-T1, p = 0.04, RR: 1.97, CI: 1.2, 3.2 compared with control horses. Conclusions: Radiographs were read by one assessor independently at each institution. Conclusions: There was no association between the presence of congenital variants of C7 and any other radiological findings. Congenital variants occurred less frequently in cases compared with control horses. There was no association between the presence or absence of a congenital variant and the type of case.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-06-28 PubMed ID: 38938125DOI: 10.1111/evj.14127Google 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 study discusses the potential relationship between congenital variations in certain cervical vertebrae, specifically the sixth and seventh, and clinical or radiological abnormalities in Warmblood horses. The study concludes that such congenital variants do not seem to be associated with other abnormalities or symptoms displayed in these horses.

Objective and Methods of the Research

  • The main objective of this research was to investigate the prevalence of congenital variations in the sixth (C6) and seventh (C7) cervical vertebrae and how these might correlate with other radiological abnormalities extending to the second thoracic vertebra (T2).
  • The method involved a cross-sectional study based on Warmblood horses that were at least three years old, and undergoing clinical assessments at two referral centers. This study included 96 cases demonstrating neurologic symptoms, neck pain/stiffness, or neck-related forelimb lameness, and 127 control horses without these symptoms.
  • All horses were subjected to a standardized orthopedic and neurologic examination. Radiographic views were obtained and assessed following a set of pre-determined grading criteria.

Results of the Research

  • Among the observed horses, it was found that the ventral profile of vertebra C7 was abnormal in 24.2% or 54 horses. However, the occurrence of these congenital variants was less likely in affected cases compared to the control horses.
  • The study found no correlation between the existence of a C7 variant and modeling of the articular processes (the points of contact between adjacent vertebrae) of adjacent vertebrae – C6-C7, C7-T1 or T1-T2.
  • It was noted that cases were more likely to have severe modeling of the articular processes at C6-C7 and C7-T1 compared to control horses.

Conclusion of the Research

  • The radiographic findings and clinical categories were evaluated independently by an assessor in each institution.
  • The research concluded that there was no correlation between the presence of congenital variants of C7 and any other radiological abnormalities. Bypassing the initial assumption, these variants were found less frequently in cases compared to control horses.
  • Finally, the study concludes there is no relationship between the presence or absence of a congenital variant and the type of the identified case.

Cite This Article

APA
Dyson S, Phillips K, Zheng S, Aleman M. (2024). 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. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14127

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Dyson, Sue
  • Independent Consultant, Diss, UK.
Phillips, Kathryn
  • Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Zheng, Shichen
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.
Aleman, Monica
  • Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.

Grant Funding

  • V435104 / Equine and Comparative Neurology Research Group, UC Davis (Aleman)

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. DeClue A, Workman K, May-Davis S. Identifying by Radiograph Grade 4 Aplasia of the Caudal Lamina Ventralis in the Equine Sixth Cervical Vertebra and Three Coinciding Morphological Variations. Animals (Basel) 2026 Feb 4;16(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16030482pubmed: 41681463google scholar: lookup
  2. 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
  3. Boado A, Pollard D, Lopez-Sanroman FJ, Dyson S. Orthopaedic Injuries in 272 Dressage Horses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 14;15(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15202972pubmed: 41153899google scholar: lookup
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