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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Osseous pathologic changes in the lumbar region of the equin...
Equine veterinary journal2023; 56(5); 1031-1040; doi: 10.1111/evj.14035

Osseous pathologic changes in the lumbar region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post-mortem study in three breeds.

Abstract: Data on equine lumbar pathology hardly exist in breeds other than Thoroughbreds. Objective: To describe pathological changes of the osseous lumbar vertebral column in Warmblood horses, Shetland ponies and Konik horses. Methods: Descriptive post-mortem study. Methods: The lumbar vertebral columns of 34 Warmblood horses, 28 Shetland ponies, and 18 Konik horses were examined by computed tomography (CT). Osteoarthritis (OA) of articular processes (APJs), OA of intertransverse joints (ITJs), intervertebral disc (IVD) mineralisation, impingement of spinous (SPs) and transverse (TPs) processes and spondylosis were scored. Breed differences in prevalence and severity of pathologies were analysed by linear regression analysis and by calculating Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (rs). Results: In Warmblood horses, the prevalence of OA of APJs, impingement of SPs and TPs was respectively 90%, 36%, and 35%, significantly higher than in the other breeds (p < 0.001). In Konik horses, IVD mineralisation (40%) and spondylosis (10%) were more frequent than in Warmbloods and Shetland ponies (p = 0.03). Severity score for OA of ITJs was highest in Shetland ponies (p < 0.001). For impingement of SPs, severity score was highest in Warmbloods (p = 0.03), and of TPs lowest in Shetland ponies (p = 0.003). For all parameters, except for spondylosis in Shetland ponies, there was a positive correlation between percentage of vertebrae affected and age, with IVD mineralisation scores increasing faster in Konik horses (p < 0.001). In all breeds, there was also a positive relation between scores of severity and age for OA of APJs and ITJs and for IVD mineralisation, with severity scores increasing faster in Shetland ponies (p = 0.04). Strong left/right correlations of the severity scores were seen for OA of the APJ, ITJ, impingement of TPs, and paramedian spondylosis (rs = 0.74-0.86, all p < 0.001). Conclusions: Clinical histories were not available. Conclusions: There are distinct breed differences between prevalence and severity of osseous pathologies of the lumbar spine. Warmblood horses have higher scores for most pathologies with IVD mineralisation being more important in Konik horses and OA of ITJs in Shetland ponies.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-12-21 PubMed ID: 38126939DOI: 10.1111/evj.14035Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research involves a post-mortem examination of lumbar vertebral column pathologies in three different horse breeds: Warmblood horses, Shetland ponies, and Konik horses. The findings reveal distinct prevalence and severity of spinal conditions among these breeds, with Warmblood horses showing higher instances of certain conditions, IVD mineralisation being more common in Konik horses, and Shetland ponies having the highest OA of ITJs.

Methodology

  • The study involved a post-mortem examination of the lumbar vertebral columns of 34 Warmblood horses, 28 Shetland ponies, and 18 Konik horses.
  • The examination process consisted of computed tomography, often in medical settings referred to as CT scans. This advanced imaging process offered detailed visuals of the horses’ vertebral regions.
  • Various conditions were scored in the process, including osteoarthritis (OA) of articular processes (APJs), OA of intertransverse joints (ITJs), intervertebral disc (IVD) mineralisation, impingement of spinous and transverse processes, and spondylosis.
  • A statistical analysis was then conducted to compare breed differences in the prevalence and severity of the pathologies. Methods included linear regression analysis and using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients.

Results

  • Warmblood horses showed a significant prevalence of OA of APJs and impingement of spinous and transverse processes compared to the other breeds.
  • IVD mineralisation and spondylosis were more common in Konik horses compared to Warmblood horses and Shetland ponies.
  • Shetland ponies showed the highest severity of OA of the ITJs and Warmbloods showed the highest severity for impingement of the SPs.
  • There was a clear correlation between increasing age and the severity of all these conditions, with Shetland ponies showing a faster increase in severity scores.

Conclusions

  • Clinical histories were not available for the horses examined in the study, possibly limiting context or understanding of factors contributing to the pathologies.
  • The study identifies significant breed differences in relation to the prevalence and severity of various spinal pathologies. Warmblood horses generally had higher scores for most pathologies, while certain conditions (like IVD mineralisation) were more present in Konik horses, and specific conditions (like OA of the ITJs) were most notable in Shetland ponies.

Cite This Article

APA
Spoormakers TJP, Veraa S, Graat EAM, van Weeren PR, Brommer H. (2023). Osseous pathologic changes in the lumbar region of the equine vertebral column: A descriptive post-mortem study in three breeds. Equine Vet J, 56(5), 1031-1040. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14035

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 5
Pages: 1031-1040

Researcher Affiliations

Spoormakers, Tijn J P
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Veraa, Stefanie
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Graat, E A M
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Adaptation Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
van Weeren, P René
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Brommer, Harold
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Equine Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Male
  • Female
  • Species Specificity
  • Spinal Diseases / veterinary
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology

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