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Equine veterinary journal2021; doi: 10.1111/evj.13488

Gross post-mortem and histological features in 27 horses with confirmed lumbosacral region pain and five control horses: A descriptive cadaveric study.

Abstract: There is a lack of understanding of the pathological and/or physiological nature of lumbosacral region pain. Objective: To describe the gross variations of the osseous and soft tissues of the lumbosacral region and report the histological findings of sections of nerve tissue in affected and control horses. Methods: Descriptive post-mortem case series. Methods: All horses had undergone full clinical and gait assessment, including ridden exercise. Horses with a substantial response to infiltration of local anaesthetic solution around the sacroiliac joint regions were included in the affected group (n = 27). Horses for which the source(s) of pain was confirmed by diagnostic anaesthesia to be distant to the lumbosacral region were included in the control group (n = 5). The pelvic regions were isolated and the soft tissues were assessed grossly. Sections of the lumbosacral plexus and cranial gluteal, sciatic and obturator nerves were examined histologically. The osseous specimens were evaluated for anatomical variants and abnormalities. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Gross discolouration of the sciatic or obturator nerves was observed in 7 (26%) affected and no control horses. Grade 3/3 histological abnormality scores were assigned in 22% of nerve sections from affected horses compared with 3% from control horses. Several osseous variants (bifid sacral spinous processes, straight-shaped sacroiliac joint surface, short arrow-shaped sacral alae, left-right asymmetry of sacral alae, sacral curvature, absence of the fourth to fifth and ankylosis of the fifth to sixth lumbar articular process joints, left-right asymmetry of caudocranial position of the fourth to fifth and lumbar-sacral articular process joints) and abnormalities (sacroiliac enthesopathy, extra ventral sacroiliac joint surface, lumbosacral symphyseal periarticular modelling, lumbosacral intertransverse joint pitting lesions) were more frequently observed in affected horses. Conclusions: Both control and affected horses may have had preclinical abnormalities. Conclusions: Lumbosacral region pain may reflect the presence of a number of pathological changes. Neural pain may play an important role in some horses.
© 2021 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-06-12 PubMed ID: 34118082DOI: 10.1111/evj.13488Google 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.

This study aims to investigate the anatomical variations and pathology in horses suffering from lumbosacral region pain compared to a control group to gain a better understanding of this disorder. The research looks into the physical and histological conditions of the osseous and soft tissues and nerves in the horses’ lumbosacral region.

Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a descriptive post-mortem case series involving 27 horses exhibiting symptoms of lumbosacral region pain and five control horses with pain confirmed to originate from locations other than the lumbosacral region.
  • All horses underwent full clinical and gait assessment, including ridden exercise.
  • Horses included in the affected group were the ones having a substantial response to the infiltration of a local anaesthetic around the sacroiliac joint regions.
  • The pelvic regions of all horses were isolated and the soft tissues were assessed comprehensively.
  • Sections of the lumbosacral plexus and cranial gluteal, sciatic and obturator nerves were examined histologically.
  • The osseous specimens were also studied for anatomical variations and abnormalities.
  • Data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

  • 26% of the affected horses showed a significant discolouration of the sciatic or obturator nerves while none of the control horses exhibited this condition.
  • About 22% of nerve sections from affected horses were graded with severe histological abnormalities as compared to only 3% from the control group.
  • Certain osseous variants and abnormalities were more frequently noticed in the affected group, which included bifid sacral spinous processes, straight-shaped sacroiliac joint surface, and short arrow-shaped sacral alae, among others.
  • Sacroiliac enthesopathy, extra ventral sacroiliac joint surface, and lumbosacral symphyseal periarticular modelling were other notable abnormalities more frequently observed in affected horses.

Conclusions

  • Both the control and affected group showed presence of preclinical abnormalities, indicating a potential for these conditions to go unnoticed until the manifestation of pain.
  • The research suggests that pain in the lumbosacral region in horses may be a result of several pathological changes. This highlights the notion that more comprehensive clinical examinations may be required to identify potential issues early.
  • The study concludes that neural pain may potentially play an important role in pain localised in the lumbosacral region in some horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Quiney L, Stewart J, Routh J, Dyson S. (2021). Gross post-mortem and histological features in 27 horses with confirmed lumbosacral region pain and five control horses: A descriptive cadaveric study. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13488

Publication

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

Researcher Affiliations

Quiney, Laura
  • Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Stewart, Jennifer
  • Centre for Preventative Medicine, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Routh, Jennifer
  • Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
Dyson, Sue
  • Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.

Grant Funding

  • Anonymous donation to author S. Dyson for relevant research

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Scilimati N, Angeli G, Di Meo A, Dall'Aglio C, Pepe M, Beccati F. Post-Mortem Computed Tomographic Features of the Most Caudal Lumbar Vertebrae, Anatomical Variations and Acquired Osseous Pathological Changes, in a Mixed Population of Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 19;13(4).
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  2. Mathys RA, Schmitz TR, Geyer H, Borel N, Hilbe M, Ohlerth S, Bischofberger AS. Multi-Detector Helical Computed Tomography, Transrectal Ultrasonography, and Histology of the Sacroiliac Joint: A Comparative Study in Adult Warmblood Horse Cadavers. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 7;15(13).
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  3. Henyš P, Hammer N. Sacroiliac joint auricular surface morphology modulates its mechanical environment. J Anat 2025 Feb;246(2):258-271.
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