[Diagnostic validity of palpation in horses with back problems].
Abstract: There is a regularly high proportion of x-ray findings indicating a pathological deterioration of the equine vertebral column which do not correlate with the clinical symptoms. Therefore, palpation remains one of the most important clinical examination methods to determine whether or not a horse is suffering from back pain. The aim of this study was to check the validity of palpation results of horses with an assumed back problem. The palpation results of 167 horses were evaluated in retrospect: If the palpation proceeds under following conditions, positive palpation results agree with an primary back problem in about 100% of cases: 1. Hind limb lameness, being the most likely reason for misleading positive palpation results, has to be ruled out. 2. Only reproducible painful behavior is allowed to be interpreted as positive. Under these conditions a negative palpation result is correct in about 72% of cases. For the examiner it is important to keep in mind that an apparent Kissing Spine-Syndrome can exist without being palpable. By means of clinical examination it is not always possible to distinguish between painful and normal reactions. In doubtful cases diagnosis can be made by a "diagnostic therapy", or better by scintigraphy.
Publication Date: 2002-12-17 PubMed ID: 12481647
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- Journal Article
- Validation Study
Summary
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The article outlines a study that examines the reliability of palpation (examining by touch) in diagnosing back issues in horses. The study found that palpation is still an extremely valuable method, but requires careful interpretation of results and should not be used as the sole method for diagnosis.
Understanding the Research
- The paper’s premise is the challenge facing the equine veterinary field, where X-ray findings often show existence of pathological changes in horse’s spine, which may not correlate with observed clinical symptoms.
- This inconsistency prompts the continued reliance on palpation, a technique involving the identification of abnormalities via touch, to determine if a horse’s back pain is due to a primary back problem.
Study Aim & Methodology
- The research aimed to verify the accuracy of palpation used as a diagnostic technique for back problems in horses.
- The researchers carried out a retrospective examination of 167 horses’ palpation results that were suspected to have back problems.
Key Findings
- The validity of palpation is around 100% if two conditions are met: The absence of hind limb lameness (which could lead to false positive results) and presence of reproducible pain.
- Under these conditions, a negative palpation result is correct in about 72% of cases.
- It also highlighted the fact that kissing spine syndrome can exist in a horse even when it is not palpable.
- The study emphasizes the need for other diagnostic methods such as scintigraphy (a diagnostic test involving the injection of a small amount of radiopharmaceutical agent) or a diagnostic therapy in uncertain situations where it’s challenging to distinguish between painful and normal reactions during clinical examination.
Implications
- The study underscores the importance of careful interpretation of palpation results and encourages veterinarians to not solely depend on it for diagnosing back problems in horses.
- It goes on to highlight the need for other complementary diagnostic techniques to ensure a more comprehensive and accurate diagnosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Ranner W, Gerhards H, Klee W.
(2002).
[Diagnostic validity of palpation in horses with back problems].
Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr, 115(11-12), 420-424.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Pferdeabteilung der Chirurgischen Tierklinik, Universität München. Pferde@chir.vetmed.uni-muenchen.de
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Back
- Back Pain / diagnosis
- Back Pain / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Palpation / standards
- Palpation / veterinary
- Radiography
- Radionuclide Imaging
- Retrospective Studies
- Spine / diagnostic imaging
- Spine / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Pilati N, Pressanto MC, Palumbo Piccionello A, De Angelis Corvi F, Beccati F. Impinging and Overriding Spinous Processes in Horses: A Narrative Review. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 13;15(18).
- de Secondi C, Cantatore F, Marcatili M, Biggi M, Withers J, de Zani D, Zani D. Spondylosis in Horses: Clinical Features, Diagnostic Imaging Findings, Treatment and Outcome in 13 Horses. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70196.
- Zielińska P, Soroko-Dubrovina M, Dudek K, Ruzhanova-Gospodinova IS. A Preliminary Study of the Influence of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Tone Changes in Thoroughbred Racehorses with Back Pain. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 22;13(5).
- Argüelles D, Becero M, Muñoz A, Saitua A, Ramón T, Gascón E, Sánchez de Medina A, Prades M. Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain Compared to a SHAM Procedure. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 5;10(12).
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