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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Surg / Long-term prognosis for return to athletic function after in...
Veterinary surgery : VS2019; 48(7); 1278-1286; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13298

Long-term prognosis for return to athletic function after interspinous ligament desmotomy for treatment of impinging and overriding dorsal spinous processes in horses: 71 cases (2012-2017).

Abstract: To determine the long-term return to performance of horses with impinging and/or overriding dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP) treated with interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD) and to determine the prognostic value of radiographic and scintigraphic grades. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Seventy-one horses with ORDSP treated with ISLD. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, physical examination, gait evaluation, and number of interspinous spaces treated. Preoperative radiographic and scintigraphic images were evaluated with grading scales. Follow-up was obtained with a telephone questionnaire. Prognostic value of the number of affected interspinous spaces, radiographic grading, and scintigraphic grading was tested by using a χ2 test. Results: A median follow-up of 35 months (range, 8-64) was available for 56 horses. Fifty-one of 56 (91.1%) horses returned to some level of performance, with 27 of 51 (52.9%) horses achieving equivalent or higher level of performance. Achieving a lower level of performance was attributed to recurrent back pain in nine of 24 (37.5%) horses and to unassociated lameness in nine of 24 (37.5%) horses. Owners of 44 of 56 (78.6%) horses were satisfied with the postoperative performance level, and owners of 46 of 56 (82.1%) horses would recommend the procedure. None of the variables tested influenced the return to performance. Conclusions: Interspinous ligament desmotomy allowed horses with ORDSP to return to some level of performance, although fewer returned to an equivalent or higher level of performance than had previously been reported. Conclusions: Interspinous ligament desmotomy allows affected horses to return to some level of performance, regardless of the severity of radiographic and scintigraphic findings.
© 2019 The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-22 PubMed ID: 31332823DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13298Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

The research paper assesses the effectiveness of interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD), a surgical procedure, in helping horses with impinging and/or overriding dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP) to return to their previous level of performance. The study found that this treatment allowed most horses to regain some level of functioning, although not all could achieve the same or higher level of performance than before.

Research Procedure

  • The study is retrospective, meaning data used for the study was collected from past patient records.
  • It included 71 horses that were treated with ISLD for ORDSP, a common condition in horses that affects their back and performance.
  • The researchers reviewed medical records of the horses to gather information about their physical condition and the number of interspinous spaces treated.
  • They also evaluated preoperative radiographic and scintigraphic images and graded them using specific scales.
  • Long-term outcomes were obtained by conducting a telephone survey with the horse owners. A median follow-up of 35 months was available for 56 of these horses.
  • The researchers analyzed whether the number of affected interspinous spaces, along with the radiographic and scintigraphic gradings, could predict the horses’ return to performance. These variables were tested using a statistical method known as a chi-square test.

Study Findings

  • From the horses for whom follow-up information was available, the vast majority (91.1%) returned to some level of performance. However, only around half (52.9%) managed to attain the same level of performance as before, or higher.
  • Lower levels of performance were often because of recurrent back pain, or lameness unrelated to the back condition.
  • A significant majority of horse owners (78.6%) expressed satisfaction with the performance level achieved following the surgery, and many (82.1%) said they would recommend the procedure.
  • Interestingly, neither the severity of radiographic and scintigraphic findings nor the number of affected interspinous spaces influenced the return to performance. This suggests that the ISLD procedure could potentially benefit horses regardless of the severity or extent of their condition.

Conclusions

  • The study determined that ISLD provides a generally effective treatment for horses with ORDSP, helping most to regain some level of performance. However, fewer horses were able to achieve the same or higher level of performance as they had prior to the condition.
  • Despite these findings, most horse owners felt that the surgery had been beneficial and would recommend it to others.
  • The results did not identify any variables that influenced the return to performance, suggesting that ISLD could be a viable treatment option regardless of the severity or extent of ORDSP in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Prisk AJ, García-López JM. (2019). Long-term prognosis for return to athletic function after interspinous ligament desmotomy for treatment of impinging and overriding dorsal spinous processes in horses: 71 cases (2012-2017). Vet Surg, 48(7), 1278-1286. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13298

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 48
Issue: 7
Pages: 1278-1286

Researcher Affiliations

Prisk, Amanda J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts.
García-López, José M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, Massachusetts.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Back Pain / etiology
  • Back Pain / surgery
  • Back Pain / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Ligaments, Articular / pathology
  • Ligaments, Articular / surgery
  • Prognosis
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sports
  • Thoracic Vertebrae / surgery

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Connaughton MT, MacDonald EJ, Ireland JL, Rocchigiani G, Stack JD. Experimental comparison of caudal wedge ostectomy to cranial wedge ostectomy for surgical treatment of overriding/impinging spinous processes in horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1395-1404.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14498pubmed: 40110991google scholar: lookup
  2. Marshall-Gibson ME, Durham MG, Seabaugh KA, Moorman VJ, Ferris DJ. Survey of equine veterinarians regarding primary equine back pain in the United States. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1224605.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1224605pubmed: 37565081google scholar: lookup
  3. Biedrzycki AH, Elane GL. Three-Dimensional Modeling and In Silico Kinematic Evaluation of Interspinous Ligament Desmotomy in Horses. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022;10:817300.
    doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.817300pubmed: 35433641google scholar: lookup
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