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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2022; 64(1); 61-68; doi: 10.1111/vru.13158

CT measures of osseous cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina are repeatable and associated with CT measures of adjacent articular processes in horses.

Abstract: Narrowing of the equine cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina (IF) has the potential to cause forelimb lameness and/or neck pain although limited information is available on CT of the IF. The aims of this retrospective, analytical study were to describe a protocol for quantifying CT cervicothoracic IF size; evaluate the repeatability of IF size measures; test associations between IF size and adjacent articular process (AP) size, ventral extent, and anatomic location; and determine the proportion of IF with narrowing. Computed tomographic images were acquired in 20 Warmblood horses that presented with forelimb lameness and/or neck pain. All IF between C5 and T2 (n = 160) were evaluated. IF cross-sectional area (CSA), APCSA, and AP ventral extent were measured. The repeatability of IFCSA measurement was calculated. Possible associations between IFCSA and: APCSA, ventral extent, side, or location were assessed. IF narrowing was defined as more than 50% of reduction in IF height when compared with its widest part(s). The repeatability of IFCSA measurement was excellent. There was a significant association between IFCSA and: APCSA (P < 0.001; R = 0.859; slope = -0.106), ventral extent (P = 0.022; R = 0.161; slope = -0.0617), and location (P < 0.001; higher values between C7 and T2). The association between IFCSA and ventral extent was small. Narrowing was identified in 61 (38.1%) IF. Maximum degree of narrowing was most common at the cranial (26.3%) and middle (68.8%) third of the IF. Narrowing was not identified at T1-T2. In conclusion, CT cervicothoracic IF size can be measured with excellent repeatability, and associations were found between IF size and: AP size, ventral extent, and location.
© 2022 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2022-09-05 PubMed ID: 36065515DOI: 10.1111/vru.13158Google 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.

Plain language overview: This study examines the condition of horses’ cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina (openings in the spine) using CT scans. It finds that these scans produce reliable measurements, and that the size of these openings is linked to the dimensions of adjacent spinal structures.

Detailed Study Explanation

The research article at hand is a retrospective and analytical investigation into the measurements of the equine cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina (IF), which provides an overview of a newly proposed protocol for quantifying the size of IF using CT scans. This study also evaluates the repeatability of such measures and their association with the size and location of adjacent articular processes (AP).

Study Methodology

  • The study was performed on 20 Warmblood horses that showed symptoms of forelimb lameness and/or neck pain.
  • CT images of all IF between the C5 and T2 vertebrae (a total of 160) were evaluated in each of the subjects.

Measurement Parameters

The research primarily focused on:

  • IF cross-sectional area (CSA)
  • APCSA
  • AP ventral extent

These measures were then evaluated for their repeatability and possible association with the side and location of the IF.

Definition of IF Narrowing

The study defined IF narrowing as a reduction of more than 50% in the IF height when compared to its widest portions.

Study Findings

  • The measurement of the IFCSA showed excellent repeatability.
  • There was a significant statistical correlation between IFCSA and APCSA, ventral extent, and location especially between C7 and T2 vertebrae
  • Narrowing was identified in 61 IF (equivalent to 38.1% of the IF studied), with the majority occurring in the cranial and middle third regions of the IF. IF narrowing was not detected at the T1-T2 vertebrae

Conclusion

To summarize, using CT scans to measure cervicothoracic IF size in horses provides highly reliable results, and these measurements show significant correlations with adjacent AP size, ventral extent, and IF location.

Cite This Article

APA
Rovel T, Duchateau L, Saunders J, Vandenberghe F, Vanderperren K. (2022). CT measures of osseous cervicothoracic intervertebral foramina are repeatable and associated with CT measures of adjacent articular processes in horses. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 64(1), 61-68. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13158

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: 64
Issue: 1
Pages: 61-68

Researcher Affiliations

Rovel, Tibor
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Duchateau, Luc
  • Biometrics Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Saunders, Jimmy
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Vandenberghe, Filip
  • Equine Hospital De Bosdreef, Moerbeke, Belgium.
Vanderperren, Katrien
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Neck Pain / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Lameness, Animal
  • Spine
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Dyson S, Phillips K, Zheng S, Aleman M. 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 2025 Mar;57(2):419-430.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14127pubmed: 38938125google scholar: lookup
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