Investigation of a contributing factor for cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy using computed tomography for measuring the cervical vertebral volume.
Abstract: Thoroughbred horses appear to be particularly predisposed to cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), also known as wobbler syndrome. We hypothesized that variations in the cervical vertebral volumes can affect the dynamic instability of the cervical vertebrae. This observational study aimed to clarify whether cervical vertebral volume could be considered as a contributing factor in CVSM in Thoroughbred horses. Computed tomography (CT) was used to investigate a total of 21 male Thoroughbred horses (age range, 217-1,002 days; mean, 542.3 days). The study population comprised 17 CVSM horses (age range, 217-1,002 days; mean, 549.8 days) and 4 non-CVSM horses (age range, 244-682 days; mean, 510.5 days). The cervical vertebral volumes of three-dimensional CT were measured using the image-processing software. A significant difference in the variation of cervical vertebral volumes among C2 to C4 and C3 to C5 was identified in the CVSM group (P<0.05). While no significant differences were found in the variation in cervical vertebral volumes among C4 to C6. C3 demonstrated a significantly smaller cervical vertebral volume than C2 and C4 (P<0.05). In the non-CVSM group, no significant differences were found in the variation of cervical vertebral volume among C2 to C4, C3 to C5, and C4 to C6. Our findings suggest that variations in cranial cervical vertebral volume in CVSM male horses can be considered as an important contributing factor in CVSM development.
Publication Date: 2022-06-08 PubMed ID: 35675981PubMed Central: PMC9412063DOI: 10.1292/jvms.22-0188Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Observational Study
- Veterinary
Summary
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The research article explores whether variances in the cervical vertebral volumes can contribute to cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy (CVSM), a condition common in Thoroughbred horses, by using computed tomography (CT) scans.
Objective and Hypothesis of the Study
- The research aimed to discern if changes in the volume of the cervical vertebrae could be a key factor in the development of CVSM in Thoroughbred horses.
- The researchers hypothesized that these volume variances might affect the dynamic instability of these vertebrae.
Methods and Study Population
- Through the use of CT scans, 21 male Thoroughbred horses were examined. The age of these horses ranged from 217 to 1,002 days, averaging around 542.3 days.
- This population was split into two categories: 17 horses diagnosed with CVSM, and 4 horses that were not.
- The CT scans allowed for the measurement of the cervical vertebral volumes with image-processing software.
Results and Findings
- Among the horses with CVSM, a noteworthy variation was discovered in the volumes of the cervical vertebrae between C2 to C4 and C3 to C5.
- No such significant differences were detected in the volumes of the vertebrae between C4 to C6 in the CVSM horses. Additionally, the volume of C3 was significantly smaller compared to C2 and C4.
- In the group of horses without CVSM, the volume of the cervical vertebrae between C2 to C4, C3 to C5, and C4 to C6 showed no significant difference.
Conclusions
- The data suggests that variances in the volume of the cranial cervical vertebrae in male Thoroughbred horses with CVSM could be contributing to the development of the condition.
Cite This Article
APA
Kondo T, Mashimo Y, Sato F, Tsuzuki N, Yamada K.
(2022).
Investigation of a contributing factor for cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy using computed tomography for measuring the cervical vertebral volume.
J Vet Med Sci, 84(8), 1084-1087.
https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.22-0188 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
- Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Tochigi, Japan.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cervical Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horses
- Male
- Spinal Cord Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Spinal Cord Diseases / veterinary
- Spinal Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
- Spinal Stenosis / veterinary
- Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary
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