Fractures of the cervical vertebral odontoid in four horses and one pony.

This study records and analyses the diagnosis and treatment of cervical vertebral odontoid fractures in four horses and a pony, aged between one and eleven years. A variety of treatment approaches are discussed, revealing different outcomes, with only the pony failing to make a full recovery.

Subjects and Diagnosis

• The study involved five equine subjects; four horses and one pony, and their ages ranged from one to eleven years.
• These subjects were diagnosed with two different types of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament, also known as odontoid peg fractures. These fractures were identified through radiography.
• Common symptoms amongst the animals included reluctance to move the neck and head, a lack of energy or enthusiasm (dullness), and abnormalities in their gait.

Treatment Process

• The treatment method was not consistent across all cases; rather, it was tailored to each individual based on the severity of neurological signs, the horse’s intended use, and the accompanying budget constraints.
• Optimal treatment was identified as a technique combining decompression, anatomical alignment, and stabilisation of the odontoid fracture.
• If the neurological signs were not overly severe and the animal still showed sensitivity to peripheral pain, a treatment approach leaning towards conservative methods was considered appropriate. This approach is shared with common practices in human surgery.

Outcomes

• All animals, barring the pony, made a full recovery following the varying treatments applied to their fractures.
• The study does not detail the reason for the pony’s failure to recover, suggesting a need for further research around factors causing failure in treatment and recovery.