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Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association2020; 62(2); 218-224; doi: 10.1111/vru.12940

Occipital condyle defects assessed by radiography or CT can be a normal finding in foals.

Abstract: Age of complete ossification of equine occipital condyles has not been published. Consequently, clinical significance of occipital condyle defects on radiographs or CT scans of young horses remains unknown. The goals of this single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study were to characterize incidental occipital condyle defects and to define the age of complete ossification. The margin of occipital condyles was classified as regular or with defect(s). Analyses were made on 121 horses, including 106 radiographic and 19 CT studies showing the occipital condyles of horses less than 5 years of age obtained over 6 years in a referral hospital. Neurological signs and outcome were not associated with occipital defects. Horses with regular occipital condyles on radiographs had a median age of 974 days (median interquartile range = 707) compared with 47 days (interquartile range = 106) in the defect group. The odds of finding radiographically regular occipital condyles were 2.6% higher for each additional day of age (P = .011, 95% CI, 0.6-4.7%). In the CT group, univariate analyses demonstrated a significant effect of age on the aspect of occipital condyles (P = .016). Horses with regular occipital condyles were older (median age = 881 days; interquartile range = 1054) than horses with a defect (median age = 109 days, interquartile range = 318). All horses above 156 days (5.1 months) of age and 550 days (18.1 months) of age had regular occipital condyles on radiographic and CT images, respectively. This study describes occipital condyle defects as a potential normal finding in young horses and provides guidelines for interpretation of the occipital condyle ossification process.
© 2020 American College of Veterinary Radiology.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-14 PubMed ID: 33315284DOI: 10.1111/vru.12940Google 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 article focuses on a study of occipital condyle defects (anomalies in the bony projection in the skull where the neck vertebrae interact) in young horses, characterizes these defects, and aims to establish the age at which these condyles become fully ossified, or hardened into bone.

Study Purpose and Design

The primary motivations behind this research were as follows:

  • There is a lack of published information about the age at which horse occipital condyles become fully ossified, making the clinical significance of these defects currently unknown.
  • The research intended to both describe occipital condyle defects and establish the age at which complete ossification occurred.

This was a single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional study undertaken in a referral hospital over a period of 6 years.

Participants and Methods

  • The study analyzed 121 horses, all less than 5 years of age. This included 106 radiographic and 19 CT (Computed Tomography) studies presenting occipital condyle images.
  • The margin of the condyles was classified as either regular or defective.

Study Findings

The research findings were as follows:

  • There was no correlation found between neurological signs or outcomes and occipital defects, suggesting that such defects are not clinically significant.
  • The median age of horses with regular occipital condyles as seen on radiographs was significantly higher than those in the defect group. The risk of finding regular occipital condyles increases by 2.6% for each additional day of the horse’s age.
  • Similar trends were noticed in the CT group, again the horses with regular occipital condyles were, on average, older than those with defect(s).
  • All horses aged above 156 days (about 5.1 months) and 550 days (roughly 18.1 months) had regular occipital condyles on radiographic and CT images, respectively.

Study Conclusion

Occipital condyle defects can be a normal finding in foals or young horses. The study also provides suggested age guidelines for complete occipital condyle ossification. These findings may help in the interpretation of such defects during radiographic or CT scans and reduce unnecessary clinical concern.

Cite This Article

APA
Sage SE, Olive J, Lavoie JP. (2020). Occipital condyle defects assessed by radiography or CT can be a normal finding in foals. Vet Radiol Ultrasound, 62(2), 218-224. https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.12940

Publication

Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association
ISSN: 1740-8261
NlmUniqueID: 9209635
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 62
Issue: 2
Pages: 218-224

Researcher Affiliations

Sage, Sophie Elena
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
Olive, Julien
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.
  • Vet-CT Specialists, Cambridge, UK.
Lavoie, Jean-Pierre
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Male
  • Occipital Bone / anatomy & histology
  • Occipital Bone / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

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This article includes 23 references
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