Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations: clinical and radiographic features in 77 horses with poor performance and back pain.
Abstract: Back pain is well recognised as a cause of poor performance in horses, but the role of lesions of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations (facet joints) has not been well documented. Objective: To describe the clinical features, radiographic appearance and location of facet joint lesions and determine if there was any breed, gender, age, bodyweight or work discipline predilection. Methods: Data from 77 horses examined at the Animal Health Trust January 1997-September 2007 with evidence of thoracolumbar pain and radiographic changes of the facet joints were reviewed. The presence of either other osseous abnormalities of the thoracolumbar region or other problems potentially contributing to poor performance were recorded. Facet joint lesions were graded radiographically and their location determined. Influence of breed, gender and discipline on the presence of lesions, effect of location on the type of lesion and the influence of impinging dorsal spinous processes on the clinical features were assessed using Chi-squared tests. Results: There was no effect of breed, gender, age or bodyweight on occurrence of facet joint lesions. Showjumpers were significantly less affected than horses from other disciplines. There were commonly 2-5 affected facet joints, usually in the caudal thoracic and cranial lumbar spine (T15-LI). Sclerosis, periarticular new bone and narrowing of the joint space were the most frequent radiographic lesion types. Clinical features were significantly different between horses with and without impinging dorsal spinous processes. Severity of clinical signs was related to the presence of other osseous abnormalities, not the number of facet joints involved or the lesion grade. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis of the facet joints of the thoracolumbar spine can occur alone, in horses with back pain, or in association with other osseous abnormalities. Conclusions: Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar facet joints probably contributes to back pain, but further investigation of the prevalence of osteoarthritis in horses without clinical signs of back pain is merited.
Publication Date: 2009-05-08 PubMed ID: 19418740DOI: 10.2746/042516408x345099Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study aims to describe the clinical features, radiographic appearance, and location of lesions in the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations (facet joints) of horses. The research found that such lesions probably contribute to back pain, regardless of breed, gender, age, bodyweight, or work discipline. However, showjumpers were significantly less affected than horses from other disciplines.
Research Methodology:
- Researchers conducted a review of data from 77 horses, studied at the Animal Health Trust from January 1997 to September 2007, which showed signs of thoracolumbar pain and radiographic changes of the facet joints.
- They recorded the presence of other osseous abnormalities of the thoracolumbar region and assessed whether these could potentially contribute to poor performance.
- The team graded facet joint lesions based on radiographic results and determined their locations.
- With the use of Chi-squared tests, the study also assessed the influence of breed, gender, discipline, lesion location, and the effect of impinging dorsal spinous processes on the recorded clinical features.
Study Findings:
- No significant influence of breed, gender, age, or bodyweight on the occurrence of facet joint lesions was identified.
- Showjumpers were markedly less affected compared to horses engaged in other disciplines.
- Commonly, horses had 2-5 affected facet joints, typically present in the caudal thoracic and cranial lumbar spine (T15-L1).
- Sclerosis, periarticular new bone, and narrowing of the joint space were the most common types of radiographic lesions.
- Significant differences were found in clinical features between horses with and without impinging dorsal spinous processes.
Study Conclusions:
- Osteoarthritis of the facet joints can occur alone in horses with back pain or in association with other osseous abnormalities.
- The severity of clinical signs was not related to the number of facet joints involved or the lesion grade, but to the presence of other osseous abnormalities.
- Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar facet joints likely contributes to back pain in horses. However, further research is required to investigate this osteoarthritis’s prevalence among horses that do not show clinical signs of back pain.
Cite This Article
APA
Girodroux M, Dyson S, Murray R.
(2009).
Osteoarthritis of the thoracolumbar synovial intervertebral articulations: clinical and radiographic features in 77 horses with poor performance and back pain.
Equine Vet J, 41(2), 130-138.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408x345099 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arthrography / methods
- Arthrography / veterinary
- Back Pain / diagnostic imaging
- Back Pain / etiology
- Back Pain / pathology
- Back Pain / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Joint Diseases / complications
- Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Lumbar Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
- Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
- Male
- Osteoarthritis / complications
- Osteoarthritis / diagnostic imaging
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Spinal Diseases / complications
- Spinal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Spinal Diseases / pathology
- Spinal Diseases / veterinary
- Thoracic Vertebrae / diagnostic imaging
- Thoracic Vertebrae / pathology
- Zygapophyseal Joint / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Boado A, Pollard D, Lopez-Sanroman FJ, Dyson S. Orthopaedic Injuries in 272 Dressage Horses: A Retrospective Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 14;15(20).
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