Multicenter case-control study of signalment, diagnostic features, and outcome associated with cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation in horses.
Abstract: To compare signalment of horses with cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation (CVM) with that of control horses and to describe results of clinical examination, diagnostic imaging and necropsy findings, and reported outcome in horses with CVM. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 270 horses with CVM and 608 control horses admitted to 6 veterinary hospitals from 1992 through 2007. Methods: Medical records of participating hospitals were reviewed to identify horses with CVM (ie, case horses) and contemporaneous control (non-CVM-affected) horses that were admitted for treatment. Signalment was compared between case horses and control horses. Results of clinical examination, laboratory and diagnostic imaging findings, necropsy results, and outcome were assessed for horses with CVM. Results: Case horses were younger (median age, 2 years) than were control horses (median age, 7 years). Thoroughbreds, warmbloods, and Tennessee Walking Horses were overrepresented in the CVM group. Gait asymmetry and cervical hyperesthesia were frequently detected in horses with CVM. Vertebral canal stenosis and articular process osteophytosis were commonly observed at necropsy; agreement between the results of radiographic or myelographic analysis and detection of lesions at necropsy was 65% to 71% and 67% to 78%, respectively. Of 263 horses with CVM for which outcome was recorded, 1 died and 172 (65.4%) were euthanatized. Conclusions: Odds of a diagnosis of CVM were greater in young horses and horses of specific breeds. Detection of gait asymmetry and cervical hyperesthesia were frequently reported in association with CVM. Accurate diagnosis of lesions associated with CVM by use of radiography and myelography can be challenging.
Publication Date: 2010-10-06 PubMed ID: 20919847DOI: 10.2460/javma.237.7.812Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This is a retrospective study that aimed to compare characteristics of horses with cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation (CVM) to control horses, while also examining results of clinical tests, imaging, post-mortem examinations, and the outcomes for horses with CVM. The study revealed increased odds of CVM diagnosis in young and specific breeds of horses, with common symptoms such as abnormal gait and neck hypersensitivity, and difficulty in diagnosing CVM using radiography and myelography.
Comparison of CVM and Control Horses
- The study involved 270 horses with CVM and 608 control horses admitted to six veterinary hospitals between 1992 and 2007.
- Horses with CVM (case horses) were identified, and their medical records compared with those of control (non-CVM-affected) horses that were also presented for treatment during the same period.
- The result showed that horses with CVM were younger, with a median age of 2 years, compared to controls that had a median age of 7 years.
- Among breeds, Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and Tennessee Walking Horses were found to be overrepresented in the CVM group.
Diagnostic and Necropsy Findings
- Clinical examination often revealed abnormality in gait (gait asymmetry) and heightened sensitivity in the neck area (cervical hyperesthesia) among the horses with CVM.
- Upon necropsy, most common findings were narrowing of the spinal canal (vertebral canal stenosis) and growth of bony projections called osteophytes on the joints between vertebrae (articular process osteophytosis).
- However, the agreement between these necropsy findings and the results of radiographic or myelographic analysis was only between 65% to 71%, and between 67% to 78% respectively, indicating a potential challenge in accurately diagnosing CVM.
Outcome for Horses with CVM
- Out of the 263 horses diagnosed with CVM, one died and approximately 65.4% (172 horses) were put down. The high euthanasia rate suggests poor prognosis associated with this disease.
- It is also suggested from the findings that younger horses or those from the specific breeds identified are more likely to develop CVM, but more research is needed to fully grasp the cause of this statistical deviation.
Cite This Article
APA
Levine JM, Scrivani PV, Divers TJ, Furr M, Mayhew IJ, Reed S, Levine GJ, Foreman JH, Boudreau C, Credille BC, Tennent-Brown B, Cohen ND.
(2010).
Multicenter case-control study of signalment, diagnostic features, and outcome associated with cervical vertebral malformation-malarticulation in horses.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 237(7), 812-822.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.237.7.812 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. jlevine@cvm.tamu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Cervical Vertebrae / abnormalities
- Congenital Abnormalities / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Retrospective Studies
- Spinal Cord Compression / diagnosis
- Spinal Cord Compression / pathology
- Spinal Cord Compression / veterinary
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